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HISTORY 



OF THE 



LATE POLISH REVOLUTION, 



AND THE 



EVENTS OF THE CAMPAIGN. 



BT JOSEPH HORDTNSKI, V 



MAJOE OW THB LATfl"rsicra ftJiafMEHT or UJHV*MtA9 LA90XU. 



THIRD EDITION. 



• » * 



... 



• • • « « 



BOSTON: 

PRINTED FOR SUBSCRIBERS. 

1833. 



"■" CJA"^ 



\rA^^'~oH^^'^ ^'''^' 



I 



THE NEW YORK 

PUBUC LIBRARY 

79257RA 

AtTOn. L£MOX AtlD 

TILOSM JPOUNOATIOM81 

a 1086 L 



Entered according to Act of Congien, in tho yeir 183IS, 

BT JOSEPH HOBDTNSKI, 
In the Clerk's Office oC the Diitrict Comt of Bfunchnietts. 



• • » 









• • • 

a * • • * • 



• • • . • • 

• • •••••• 

• • • • • , 

' • • • • • 



» - • 



* . • 
• • • • 

• • • 



• • . • 



TO THX 
ORBAT AND FREB NATION 

OF THE 

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 



Liberated firom prison, and from the prospect of a more 
gl<Mny future, by some of your fellow citizens, I hare been so 
fortunate «b to reach these happy shores. Providence has 
granted me to behold that fair country, and that nation, which 
•rery lover of freedom desires to see with his own eyes, and 
every frebnan of Poland b wont to think of with love and es- 
teem. Your land, long since the asylum of the persecuted, 
has welcomed me with hearty benevolence. From the first 
moment of my arrival to the present time, I have received 
daily proofs of your sympathy. Full of gratitude, and in the 
hope of doing you an acceptable service, I cannot better em- 
ploy the moments allowed me during my stay among you, 
than by giving you a faithful accovmt of our revolutiqi^ and of 
its true causes and motives, as well as of the events of war by 
which it was followed. By a brief statement of the circum- 
stances which lHT»ught about that revolution, I wish to inform 
you of the injustice and outrages which my nation was com- 
pelled to endure, during fourteen years, in which both its nat- 
ural rights, and die constitution solemnly guarantied to it, 
were trampled under foot. By a true account of the events of 
the ensuing war, you will be enabled to convince yourselves 
of the means by which small forces became victorious over a 
colossal power, as well as of the catises of the final catastrophe 
to which Poland has been doomed. 

I am convinced that in many respects my narrative wiU be 
entirely opposed to the representations given in public papers ; 
for our land, like most countries struggling for liberty, was 



jyOR20JUNS4 



IV DEDICATION. 

surro jipd ed by enemies rather than friends. The sources from 
whicnl%^ accounts have been drawn, are, first, my own re- 
collections of events of which I was an eye-witness ; secondly, 
the reports of my friends and comrades who were present; 
and lastly, (particularly as to the operations of the detached 
corps) the official reports of the army, which have not yet es- 
caped my memory. The same course I have followed in the 
design of the plans, which have been traced partly from my 
own recollections of positions and scenes at which I was pre- 
sent, partly from the accurate reports of friends, and partly 
from public reports, assisted by my personal knowledge of 
localities. 

Americans, — ^I am neither an author nor a scholar by pro- 
fession, but a simple republican and soldier. In such an one 
you will forgive faults in t^e form and style of writing. Do 
not then judgs me as a writer, but see in me an unha])py Pole, 
who presents to your sympathies the picture of the fatal disas- 
ters of his unfortunate country, and of the manner in which it 
strove to regain its liberty, that first and greatest of national 
blessings. In this hope of your indulgence, I beg you to ac- 
cept this work as a token of my gratitude and as a memorial 
of my short stay among you, as well as an expression of the 
great esSem, with which I shall always remain, 

Americans, your devoted servant, 

JOSEPH HORDYNSKL 

To the gentlemen who have aided me by the translation, 
the execution of the plates, and the publication of the work, I 
ofier the only recompense which they will permit me to make — 
my heartfelt thanks ; and I assure them that in the feelings 
which prompt this acknowledgement, all my comrades will 
participate. J* H. 



CONTENTS 



CHAPTER I. 

Geognphifcl extent, popttUtion, and peiitical importance of Poluid, m an- 
ciently conatitnted.— Coodact of Jfapoleon in 1812— Congreaa of Vienna.— 
Gnmd'dacbj of Wantw erected inte a Kingdom. — Diepoaitiona of Alexan- 
der. — ^Zajaczek appointed Viceroy, and Coaatantine commander of the army. 
— Conataatine encroacbea npon the civil adminiatration. — Acta of tyranny. — 
Meeting ef the Diet.~Pnblic debatee anp pr e a a ed.~Tbe Poliab Conapiracy 
of laSl.'The Roaaian Conapiracy of 1824.— Uoioo of the Patriotic Aaao- 
eiationa.— Death of Alexander^— The Revolt at St Peteraborgfa.— Poniahmeot 
of the Patriota^— Coronation of Nicbolaa. — Conatantine appointed Viceroy 
of Poland.— -Oppraaaiona of the OoveraoMnt — ^Patriotic Clab. — Infloenee of 
the French and Belgie Revolntiona.— The <|aartenng-tax. — Excitement in 
Waranw.— Aneat of the Stndenta at Prya.— Day ef tlw Ret olntion fixed 



CHAPTER II. 

Principlee of the Revolation.— The Ft bbt Nigst.— Attack on the Barracka 
of the Roaaian t^avalry. — Their Disperaion. — Attempt to aecure the perMMi 
of the Grand Duke. — Capture of Rossian general officera and apiea. — Actiona 
with detached bod'iea of Rnuian cavalry.— 7Vo companiea of Poliah light- 
infantry join the patriota.— Death of Potocki and Trembicki.— The Roaaian 
Infantry att acked and diaperaed. — Armament and aaaemUing of the people* — 
Detachmenta aent to Praga. ...... 90 



CHAPTER III. 

Thx FiRflT Day.— Expolaion of the Roaaiana fhmi Waraaw.— Choice of Chlo- 
picki aa Commander in Chief. — ^Proviaional GoTemment, under the Preai. 
dency of Prince Adam Cxartoriaki. — Deputation sent to the Grand Duke. — 
Propoaitiona and anawer. — Abolition of the Bureau of Police. — Eatabliahment 
of the National Guard. — ^Proelamationa addreaaed to the inhabitanta of the 
prorincea and the diatant troops* — ^Provision for the Roaaian prisoners. — ^The 
Academical Legions formed. — Arrival of detachmenta fh>m the provinces.— 
The Grand Duke eonaenta to leave the kingdom, and iddfases i proclama- 
tion to the Poles. ....... 47 



Tl CONTENTS. 



CHAPTERJV. 

The Patriotic Club commencei its lessions.— Character of that association.^ 
The Grand Duke departs for the frontier. — ^Particulars of his march^ — ^The 
Polish regiments which had remained with him return to Warsaw. — ^Their 
reception. — ^ELrazjmski and Komatowski. — ^Deputation to St. Petersbnrgfa. — 
Demands to be laid before the Emperor. — Sierawski made GoTemor of War 
saw, and Wasowiez chief of the staff. — Order respecting the army. — Arrival 
of volunteers from the interior. — evening of the theatre. — Religiims solemni- 
ties at Praga. — Chlopicki nominated and proclaimed Dictator. . 69 



CHAPTER V. 

The Dictator enters upon his duties. — ^Plans for the enrollment of new forces. — 
System of officering them. — Want of energy in the execution of his plans. — 
Fortifications neglected. — ^The people supply the deficiencies of the adminis- 
tration. — Discovery of the correspondence between the ministers Grabowski 
and Lubecki. — The march of the army delayed. — Answer of the Emperor 
Nicholas to the deputies. — His proclamation.— Its effect on the nation. — ^The 
Diet demand of the Dictator an account of his trust. — ^The result of their inves- 
tigations. — Chlopicki deprived of the Dictatorial power. — ^The civil adminis- 
tration entrusted to Prince AdamCxartoriski, and the command of the Army 
to Prince Michael Radzivil, each subordinate to the Diet . . 71 

CHAPTER VI. 

Remaiks on the policy of the late Dictator. — System of operations adopted. — 
The armjikleaves Warsaw. — Statement of the existing forces. — Of the forces 
proposed to be raised. — Unfortunate consequences of the delay in the prepa^ 
ration of the forces —Statement of the foice with which the war was actually 
commenced. ........ 87 

CHAPTER VII. 

Elntrance of tin Russian forces into the Kingdom.— Proclamations of Marshal 
Diebitsch. — ^Their effect — Disposition of the Russian and Polish forces. — 
Plan of operations of the Poles. ..... 98 

CHAPTER VIII. 

The opening fire. — ^Affairs of the 10th and 11th February. — Combat of Stoczek. 
— ^Disposition in consequence of that battle. — Battle of Boimie. — Retrograde 
movement to Dobre. — Combat of Makowiec. — Passage of the Orsyca. — Com- 
bat of Dobre. — ^Attack on the right wing at Minsk. 109 



COlfTEIfTS. TU 



CHAPTER IX. 

Retrograde moTement of the 18Ui of Fefaniary.— Details of ttiii 
of the actions which took place.— The armj reaches the field of Praga^ — Its 
reception at Waiaaw.'PositioA of the armj. — Battle of Wavre aad BiaJolaa- 
ha^--OperatioD9 of general Dwemicki against ^ corps of Pri»c« Wirtsa- 
borg. — ^Defeat of that corps by general Dweraicki at Swiera. — Renewal ef 
the enemy's attack on the main amy on the 90lh.~Ita s ac cea sftU resistaaoe. 
-^Review of tke eventa of the preceding days Fiaminatioa of the plan of 
operations of the Polidk azay. ..... 116 

CHAPTER X. 

Piooeedings of the MatioBal GovenuDeat.— Marshal Dtebitsch rnliiii is n 
state of inactivity. — ^Negotiations are opened by hi» -His p f of i o s if ioMs are 
declined.— Position of Che army on the iUh, and battle of Bialoleaka^— Posi- 
tion on the 25th.— Great battle of Grochow.— Details.— State of the Bassfsn 
aimy after its defeat. — ^Examination of the plan of the battle of Grochow.^— 
Renutiks upon the covse adopted by prince Radxiril after that Tictory.^ — 
The Polish ^rmy crosses the Vistola to Wamw.— Ita reeeption by the aa- 
Uoatl govemmeni and the citizens. — ^ResigaatioB of priace RadairiL 148 



CHAPTER XI. 



Passage of the Vistola to Warsaiw.— DispoehioB of the Polish fiacets ob its left 
baak. — i^ipointment of general John Sknyaacki to the cUef ftimaadi — 
Proelamation.-«-Pron^ attention is given to the reorgaaisatkm of the amy, 
the arsenals sad mannfactones of arms, the focti icatio B e , Icc^— Deportreeat 
of the commeader in chief towards the amyw— Geaetal safhusiaM of the 
nation.— The patriotic offers of the Polish womea.— N«W regalatioas estab- 
lished for conferring orders of meift—Disorderiy state of the Rassisn srrny^— 
Attempt of Diebitsch to bribe the Polish soldiery.— Geaeral riew of the ea- 
conraging circomstances of this epoch.— The iasnrrectioa in Rossis oader 
Yermolow.— View of the stste of the Polish forces whea general SkRyaecki 
took the chief command. — He presses the organiiatioa of the «ew forces. — 
Their distribntion and that of the geaeral forces.-^ositk»ns of the Polish 
^rmy and the detached corps. — Rossiaa position. 175 

CHAPTER XII. 

Operations of the corps of general Dwemicki against the Rossian corps nnder 
the itfince Wirtemberg, in the Palatinate of LaUin.— Battle of Pnlawa, 
and defeat of Wirtemberg. — Atrocities of that prince at Polawa. — Porsoit of 
the enemy.— Battle of Korow, and annihilation of Wirtemberg's corps. — 
Operations of colonel Valentin, between Modlin and Poltosk.— A detachment 



Viii CONTENTS. 

of the enemy is surprised at Nasielsk.— Transports of prorisioas for the ene- 
my from Prussia taken. — Successful skirmishes^ — ^Marshal Diebitsch demands 
the capitulation of the fortress of Modlin. — Reply of colonel Leduchowski. — 
A detachment from the garrison of Modlin attacks and defeats a Russian force 
at Serock. — General Skrzynecki makes an offer of pacification on the basis of 
the concessions originally demanded by the Poles. — This proposition is re- 
jected and hostilities are recommenced. — Reconnoissance upon the right bank 
of the Vistula under Jankowski and Gielgud. — A Russinn corps under general 
Witt is sent against Dwernicki. — General Uminski is sent against the Russian 
guard. — ^First encounter. — ^The Russian guard is compelled to leare their 
position for Ostrolenka. — ^The guard eyacuates Ostroled^ to jo|fi the grand 
army. ........ 195 

CHAPTER XIII. 

Plsn of general Skrzynecki to act upon the isolated corps of Rosen and Gies- 
mar. — Battle of Wawr. — ^Various detachments of the enemy are taken after 
that battle, and a great number of prisonera. — Battle of Dembe-Wielke. — 
Destructive pursuit of the enemy by our cavalry.— View of the Russian losses 
in the preceding days. — Marshal Diebitsch abandons his plan of crossing the 
Vistula, and marches to the rescue of the remains of the corps of Rosen and 
Giesmar, and the Imperial Guard. — ^View of the position of the two annies 
after the second repulse of the enemy from before Warsaw. — Operations of 
general Dwernicki. — Successes <^ a reconnoissance under colonel Russyian 
at Usciulog. — Effect of Dwemicki's victories on the inhabitants of the pro- 
vinces. — Acknowledgement of general DwerAcki's services by the National 
Government. — ^The instructions for his fbture operations. . 213 

CHAPTER XIV. 

The insurrection in Lithuania. — Dispositions of the Lithuanians at die breaking 
out of our revolution. — Their offers of co-operation were rejected by the dic- 
tator. — View of the condition of Lithuania under the Russian sway. — Scheme 
of the Russian government to destroy all Polish national feeling in that pro- 
vince. — The insurrection is brought about by the massacre of the patriots at 
Osmiany. — Capture of mimerous towns by the insurgents, and dispersion of 
their garrisons. —Storm of Wilna, and delivery of prisoners. — Several partisan 
corps are formed. — ^Their destination and successes. , 229 

CHAPTER XV. 

Plan of operation against the two corps of Rosen and Kreutz. — Battle of Igani. 
— ^Reflections on the state of the Polish cause after the victory of Igani. — 
Review of the course of the campaign. — Condition of the Russian army. — 
Discontents in Russia. — ^Representations of the Senate at St. Petersburgh to 
the Elmperor. — Comparative view of the forces <^ the two armies at the pres- 
ent stage of the conflict ...... 238 



coif TENTS. IX 



CHAPTER XVI. 

Position of the two anniea after the battle of Igani.— Plan of a aiattltaaeoaa at- 
tack upon the Rassian forces apon opposite sides. — InstmctioiM to the dif- 
ferent corps. — Operations on the enemy's fhnit — Unfortanate operatioas of 
general Sierawski, and the firfd <{f/Vat— Details of those operatioas*— Opera- 
tions of general Ehvemicki. — He defeats Rndiger ; bat bj a &lee operaliofl 
exposes himself to be attacked disadvantageonsly by two Rue siatt cofpe, — In 
the course of the action the Austrian frontier is passed by the combatants.^ 
An Austrian force interposes, and general Dwernicki consents to go into 
camp. — His arms and prisoners are taken from him, while the enemj is per> 
mitted to leave the territory freely.— Reflections on the conduct of Austria. — 
Consequences of the Jose tsf J>wenicki's corps. — ^The cholera makes its ap- 
pearance in the two armies. . . . • • 254 



CHAPTER XVII. 

The Russian commander lesumes offensiTe operations.— Otgect of the attack 
of the 25th of April.— Combat of Ruflew.— General Dembinski eTScnates the 
position of Kuflew, and awaite the enemy at Bedy.— Battle of Minsk.— The 
enemy suddenly eTacnates hie position.— Reflections on thie stage of the 
conflict. — Positions of the two armies .... t71 



CHAPTER XVIII. 

General Skrsyneeki lesomee the offonsiTe.— He decides to adopt «d enlarged 
|dan of operations, and to make the roTolutionized prorincee enpply the plnce 
of a corps d'armee.— The corps of Chnanowski is sent te oeenpy the RsMian 
cotpa of Witt and Krentx.— Admirable execution of this enteipriee^— Attack 
cm JLock^— Attack of Rndiger's camp.— Plan of operations by tiie main army 
against the Russian guard. — ^Forced march (W>m Kalusxyft by Pragm to Se- 
rock.— AdTonced post of the guard attacked and defeated.— The cofpe of 
Saken is cut oflf.- The 2d ditision under Gielgud sent into Lithuania.— The 
imperial guard are driTon with great loss beyond the fWmtier.— Retrograde 
morement. ........ 283 



CHAPTER XIX. 

Thft Litbnaniane compel two Ruffiwn corps te oTacuate Samogitia^^— Operations 
of general Chlapowaki in the department d" Bialostok.— Capture of Bielsk.— 
Defeat of a Rmwian force at Narewka and expulsion of the enemy fW>m the 
depaztmeat— Recapitulation of the forces which had been sent into Lithu- 
nniaw— Operations of the main army.— Attempt of marshal Diebitsch to inter- 
cept Skixynecki on his retrograde march, by a diversion to Ostrolenka.— 



: CONTENTS, 

General Lubinski inipriset the RoMian advanced guard at Cxe7zew.^Mar-. 
fhmi Diebitsch attacks the Polish rear guard at Klecikowo* — ^The rear guard 
quits its position at night, and joins the main army at Ostrolenka. — Battle of 
Qstrolenka* . , . t t . . > ^ 



CHAPTER XX. 

Operations oTthe Lithuanian corps. — Battle of Raygrod and defeat of the Rus- 
sian corps of Saken. — Importance of this first success in Lithuania^ — General 
Gielgud neglects to follow up his advantages. — He* loses time by passiiag the 
Niemen at Gielgudiski, and enables the enemy to concentrate his forces in 
Wllna. — Entrance into Lithuania and reception by the inhabitants. — ^Position 
of the two main armies. — ^The Russian forces remain inactive and reeeive 
supplies fVom Prussia. — ^Death of marshal Diebitsch. .. . 313 



CHAPTER XXI. 

General Gielgud advances into Lithuania. — Allows a Russian corps to pass 
within a league of him unperceived. — Operations on Wilna. — Enumeration of 
our present force. — Plan of a simultaneous attack upon Wilna on opposite 
sides by the corps in two divisions. — General Dembinski engages the enemy 
with the smaller part of the corps. — Being unsupported by Gielgud, is forced 
to retreat. — General, Gielgud attacks Wilna. — Battle of Wilna. — A retreat is 
commenced. — Prodigious efforts of the Polish cavalry in protecting this- 
retreat — Consequences of the repulse from Wilna. — The removal of general 
Gielgud is called for. — General Chlapowski consents to take the viitual com- 
mand of the corps, in the post of chef d'etat major. — Consideration on the 
state of things consequent to the battle of Wilna. — Details of the admirable 
plan of operations proposed by colonel Valentin. . . 3S8 



CHAPTER XXII, 

Operations of the main army. — Expedition under Jankowski. — General Chm> 
nowski having driven Rudiger from his position, crosses the Vistula, but re- 
turns to act in concert with general Jankowski against the enemy near Kock. 
•^Details of general Jankowski's movement. — He remains inactive within 
sight of the fire of the corps with which he was to co-operate. — Other evident 
ces of treason. — Generals Jankowski and Bukowski are arrested and ordered 
for triaU^View of the advantages that were sacrificed by this misconduct- 
Discovery of a plot to liberate and arm the Russian prisoners at Warsaw, and 
to deliver the city to the enemy. State of the public mind induced by these 
events. ........ 344 



C0NTB1VT8. XI 



CHAPTER XXIIl. 

General Chlapowdu arriTee at Keydaay, hayiiig orderad geatral Daa biMk i to 
withdraw to WiUconien^The poaitton of the two fbrcea aad tbek Um of 
operationa.~Eiaminafion of thaae amngemeBta.— Ne^ect of the iBportast 
poeition of Kowao.— General Chlapowaki, at Keydany, p iofi M i to form a 
proTisional goTemmeat, and obtain a levy of troopa^— DtapoaitioM of the 
Lothnaaiana^ aa eiiH:ted by the miamanagement of oar leadeia.— Adraatafea 
offered te the enemy by the delay at KeydaBy.»BraTe defence ef Kowao, by 
the amali force left therevSkirmiah at WUlconuenu— The oppofinmi^ of 
ooneeatrating ill the forcea at Keydany, and repwring the- NieaMn, ia neg- 
lected.— The enemy preaaea hia puiaait— Battle of Roaaeyny.— Attack Of 
SehawU. — ^Loaa of the ■mmeaition and baggage of the ceqM.— The cocpa re- 
tieata in ordet to Knnaoy, protected by a rear guard of cavalry and light artil- 
lery ^At Knrsany the corpa ia aabdiTided into three parti.— Deetinatioa and 
atrength of each. — Exanunation of thia plan. 900 



CHAPTER XXIV. 

The three anbdiTiaiomi of the Lithnanian corpa take their reapectiTe deatine- 
tiona. — ^Details of the operationa of that of general Robland. — He meeta alone 
the attack of the whole Raiaian force. — Battle of Powendnny and Woma. — 
General Rohlaad, on hia way to Polooga, learnt that general Chlapowiki had 
inarched towarda tiie Pnmian frontier. — He pretaes hit march to overtake 
and form a junction with him. — ^The greater part of the corpa of Gielgnd and 
Chlapowski were fonnd to bare paated the frontier, when that of Rohland 
came in tight. — Indignation of the aoldiery. — Death of general Gielgnd. — 
General Rohland, joined by a portion of the corpt of Gielgnd which had not 
yet paaaed the frontier, continnea hit march to Nowe-Miaato. — He declinea 
a propoaition from general Kreutz, to rarrender.^Succeatfhl akirmiah with 
the enemy't caralry. — Genera] Roblaod takea a position at Nowe-Miaato, and 
awaita the enemy. — ^Tbe Rostian forcet, however, do not continae their pur- 
auit, bat go into camp. — Propotitiont to paaa the frontier are tent to general 
Rohland by the Pmaaian authoritiea.— They are aobmitted to the corpa, and 
accepted. ........ 367 

CHAPTER XXV. 

Effect of the newt of the Lithnanian diaattera on the minda <^ the people. — 
Diitmtt of the National Government.— The Rntaian army retnmet the offen- 
aive under general Paakewicz.— He decidea to paaa the Viatnla^^Ezamina- 
tion of the merita of thia plan.— Plan of general Skliynecki to act on the 
different detached corpa of the enemy. — Advantagea of general ChrzanowriL 
over the corpa of Rodiger.— The Ruaaian forcea execute the paaaage of the 
Viatola.— General Skrzynecki croaaea the Viatula at Waraaw to operate 



Xll CONTENTS. 

against the enemy on the led bank.— An inqniiy into the conduct of general 
Skrzynecki, and the appointnient of a Council of War is demanded by the 
nation. — Arrival of the corps of general Dembinski at Warsaw. 384 



CHAPTER XXVI. 

Operations of general Dembinski^s corps. — He traverses the country between 
Schavla and the Niemen without being observed by the enemy. — Attacks and 
disperses a brigade of Russian infantry. — Passes tiie Niemen and throws him- 
self into the forest 'of Bialostok. — ^AiYer leaving that forest, is joined by the 
corps of general Rozyohi. — ^Reaches Warsaw. — His teception at Warsaw. — 
View of the exposed sHuation of Paskewicz after his passage of the Vistula. — 

« Examination of the plan of {^rations of the Polish commander. — ^Morbid 
state of the public mind at Warsaw. — Skrzynecki and Czartoriski deprived of 
their trust.— Capture of the city. — Documents showing the influence exercis- 
ed by the cabinets in discouraging active operations. — Conclnsion. • 394 



APPENDIX 409 



POLISH REVOLUTION. 



CHAPTER I. 

Oeognphical extent, population, wid political importance of Pdaad, aa as- 
eiently eonatatated.~Condoct of Napoleon in 1812.— Congreaa of Vienna^' 
Grand-duchy of Waraaw erected into a Kingdom. — Diapoaitiona of Alezan- 
der. — ^Zajacxek appointed Viceroy, and Conitaatine commander of the army. 
— Coaatantine enoroacbea upon the civil adminiatration. — ^Acta of tyranny.— 
Meeting of the Diet.— Pohlic debatea auppreaaed.— The Poliah Ceoap ii noy 
of 1821.— The Roaiian Con^riracy of 1824.— Union of the Patriotic Aaao- 
ciationa.— Death of Alexander.^The Reroltat St Petenbnrgh.— Puakhment 
of the Patriota. — Coronation of Nicbolaa. — Conatantine appointed Viceroy of 
Poland. — Oppreaaiona of the GoTemment. — Patriotic Club. ^Jnfhience of the 
French and Belgic ReTolutiona. — ^The Quartering-tax.— EzciteBMut in War- 
aaw. — Aireat of the Stndenta at Praga. — ^Day of the Resolution fixed upon. 

In the early part of July, I8I29 when the victori- 
ous armies of Napoleon bad occupied Wilna, and 
threatened to annihilate the throne of the Czars, 
the Polish nation cherished the hope of recovering 
its former grandeur. The destiny of Poland was 
then in the hands of Napoleon, and it may be said 
with truth that on the destiny of Poland depended 
the security and peace of Europe. 

Poland, as is well known to the reader, viewed 
in regard to its geographical situation and extent, 
as formerly constituted, forms a strong outwork 
against the Russian Colossus. Its territories ex- 
tend to the eastward as far as the Dneiper, and 
westward as far as the Oder. Toward the north 
they reach the Baltic and the government of Skoff, 
and their southern frontiers are the Carpathian 
Mountains and the Black Sea. This vast region, 

1 



6 THE FOLISM REVOLUTION. 

composed of the present Kingdom of Poland, the 
Grand-duchy of Posen, of Samogitia, Lithuania, 
Livonia, White Russia and Black Russia, Volhy- 
nia, Podolia, Ukraine, and Gallicia, is inhabited 
by twenty-two millions of Poles of the same de- 
scent, the same manners and customs, and the 
same language and religion. According to its 
ancient limits, the kingdom of Poland is among 
the first in Europe with regard to population and 
geographical extent. 

The deputies, who, at the period above named, 
were sent/rom Warsaw to the Emperor Napoleon, 
laid before him the most earnest solicitations for 
the restoration of this state, and endeavoured to 
direct his views to the future, in order to convince 
him of its necessity. They concluded with the 
following words; — ** Dites, Sire, que le royaume 
de Pologne existe, et ce decret sera pour le monde 
Pequivalent de la realite." To this he answer- 
ed ; — " Dans ma situation, j'ai beaucoup d'inte- 
rets k concilier, beaucoup de devoirs k remplir. 
Si j^avais regne pendant le premier, le second, ou 
le troisieme partage de la Pologne, j'aurais arme 
mes peuples pour la defendre. J'aime votre na- 
tion, j'autorise les efforts que vous voulez faire. 
C'est entierement dans I'unanimite de sa popula- 
tion, que vous pourez trouver I'espoir de succes. 
Je dois ajouter que j'ai guaranti a Pempereur 
d^Autriche Pintegrite de ses domaines."* 

• " Say, Sire, that the kingdom of Poland exists, and that decla- 
ration will be, in the eyes of the world, the equivalent of the re- 



THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 7 

Such a reply from Napo]eoD, the Poles could 
never have expected. For, who accompanied him 
so faithfully in all his expeditions as the sons of 
Poland ? Thousands of Poles lie buried in Italy, 
Egypt, St. Domingo, Spain, and Russia, who had 
fought for the integrity of the French Republic 
and for the aggrandizement of Napoleon. His 
cold reception of the deputies of Poland filled all 
patriots with sadness. They were now convinced, 
that the good wishes of Napoleon for Poland were 
not sincere, and that, through his marriage with 
Maria Louisa, he had come under Austrian influ- 
ence. Thus the hope of territorial enlargement 
and national existence vanished away, and Napo- 
leon, by his indifference to the interests of Poland, 
accelerated his own fall. The burning of Mos- 
cow, which was a chance that did not enter into 
his calculations, became the turning point of his 
fate. The Poles, who had contributed to his 
greatness, did not desert him in his distress ; they 
were his companions to the very last. Half a 
squadron of them followed him to Elba, at his 
own request. The disasters of France decided 
the fate of Poland. By the Congress of Vienna, 

ality." To this be answered ; — " In my situation, I have many 
interests to conciliate, many duties to fulfil. If I bad reigned 
during the first, the second, or the third partition of Poland, I 
would have armed my people to defend her. I love your nation ; 
I authorize the efforts which you wish to make. It is alone in the 
unanimity of your population that you will find the hope of suc- 
cess. I ought to add that I have guarantied to the Emperor of 
Austria the integrity of his dominions." 



8 THE POLISH RBYOtUTION. 

the Grand-duchy of Warsaw was made into a king- 
dom, and subjected to the iron sceptre of Russia. 

At the first moment of entering upon the gov- 
ernment of the kingdom, the Emperor Alexander 
seemed disposed to load Poland with benefits. 
On his return from Paris he was received by the 
inhabitants of Warsaw with the most unfeigned 
good will, and his stay in that city was marked 
by acts of beneficence. The words with which 
he then addressed the representatives of the na- 
.- tion, are still in the memory of every Pole. — 
<< Gentlemen, I respect and love your nation. To 
these feelings on my part, in which all Europe 
partakes, you are entitled by your continual and 
disinterested sacrifices for the prosperity of other 
nations. I swear to maintain your constitution, 
with all the privileges guarantied by it ; and this 
same constitution I promise to grant to your 
brethren in the provinces, which are to be united 
with you in one kingdom." The nation believed 
in these promises the more readily as the affec- 
tionate deportment of the monarch seemed to con- 
firm them. During his stay in Warsaw, he paid 
visits to several of the most popular and patriotic 
families and individuals, and every where express- 
ed himself in terms of the highest esteem for the 
Polish nation. 

■ 

This show of benevolence, and the dreams of 
happiness with which it inspired the people, were 
not, however*, of long duration. Before his de- 
parture from Warsaw, the Emperor named as vice- 



THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 9 

roj of Poland the old general Zajaczek,* raising 
him to the dignity of a prince, and his own bro- 
ther, the Grand Duke Constantine, as commander 
in chief of the Polish army. The appointment of 
these persons to the supreme power was already 
in direct opposition to all the promises he had 
made. For Zajaczek, through the infirmities of 
his advanced age, was unfit for the post of viceroy, 
and could be but an instrument in Russian hands ; 
while in Constantine, the commander in chief of 
theis army, the Poles received a tyrant. 

Not long after the departure of Alexander, the 
encroachments of the Russian cabinet began to be 
felt. Removals of officers took place in all the 
branches of government, in particular of those 
known as patriots, who were supplanted by min- 
ions of Russia, men full of ambition and intrigue. 
In the first year of the Russian government, the 
bureaa of Police was enlarged, and filled with 
persons whom the nation despised. The Polish 
anny, which bad gathered laurels in so many coun- 
tries of the three continents, and which was held 
in such high estimation by the first monarch and 
general in Europe, was exposed, on the very first 
days of the new government, to the insults of 
Constantine. There was not an officer, but was 

* Ziyacaek commenced his military career in the time of Koa- 
dnakoi continued it among the Polish legions, and accompanied 
Napoleon to Egypt, where he served with distinction. He was 
present in aU the later campaigns of NapoleoM, till 1809, when he 
returned, on account of his advanced age and the loss of one of 
his legs. 



10 



THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 



grossly offended by the Grand Duke, and more 
than all, those who wore military decorations for 
their merits- No past services were valued ; they 
only exposed those who were distinguished by 
them to greater persecution. In the first six 
months, many officers, among whom was the re- 
nowned general Sokolnicki, committed suicide ; 
and nearly one half the officers and generals asked 
their dismission, among whom was General, the 
late Dictator, Chlopicki, who preferred poverty 
and want to such an ignominious service. ^The 
Polish army, those soldiers animated by feelings 
of honor and the love of distinction, were to be 
transformed into the machines of despotism. They 
who had faced death in so many battles, who were 
covered with wounds, and who had been called 
** brethren" by the greatest leader of his age, 
were now to be beaten with the Russian knout. 
In the first year, few days passed in which some 
of the soldiers did not commit suicide. 

This prince, who appeared not to find victims 
enough for his cruelty in the army, began to med- 
dle with all the branches of administration, and to 
control them. Soon the liberty of the press was 
prohibited, freemasonry was interdicted, and a 
bureau of spies was established. The chief in 
this bureau of spies were Rozniecki, the vice-pre- 
sident of the city of Warsaw, Lubowidzki, a man 
of the name of Macrot, and Schlee. From the 
documents found upon Schlee and Macrot, it was 
ascertained that there were in Warsaw alone 900 



THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 11 

spies. In the provinces their number amounted to 
2000. The expenses and salaries of these spies, 
according to accounts found among their papers, 
drew from the public treasury ;SI1 ,000,000, or 
6,000,000 Polish gilders. Thus, our poor coun^ 
try, instead of employing her resources for the 
happiness of her children, was forced to pay the 
mercenaries hired to distress them. Soon War- 
saw and the whole kingdom became one vast 
prison. /These spies endeavoured to steal into 
everjj company, and were present in all public, 
places. They tried to catch every conversation,! 
and distorted every word spoken, with however 
innocent an intention, in regard to the policy and 
administration of the country. In order to extort 
money, they accused some of the most respected 
and honest persons, who were thrown into prison, 
and many of whom were never again seen by 
their families, from the midst of whom they had 
been dragged in the night-time, in order to con- 
ceal the crime from the eyes of the world. Per- 
sons who did not take off their hats in the streets 
before the Grand Duke, were compelled ito draw 
barrows of* mud upon the public places. There 
passed hardly a month in which some students 
were not arrested, and, without any trial, at the 
mere denunciation of a hireling spy, thrown into * 
prison, where they lingered for years. / Thus 
faded away in dungeons many fair and hopeful 
youths, the flower of our nation. In Warsaw, 
besides the public gaols, there were, beneath 



12 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 

almost all of the barracks, prisons, where the 
victims of tytanny were tortured. [The very 
orangery oi the Grand Duke was transformed into 
a prison, from which some persons were liberated 
during the revolution, who had been confined 
there for years. 1 It was in this prison that Luka- 
sinski had been kept for a long time, though sub- 
sequently bound to a cannon and carried into 
Russia. In the gaols below the barracks of the 
artillery many dead bodies were found. 
I At the first meeting of the Diet, when the 
•Grand Duke Constantino was among the deputies 
from the citj of Praga, and debates commenced on 
various subjects which concerned the welfare of 
the country, — such as the liberty of the press, the 
abolition of the central police and the spies, and 
the deposition of several of the higher officers, for 
whieh petitions had been sent to the monarch, — 
a decision was promulgated that the Diet should 
act in subordination to the will of the Grand 
Duke ; and, in order to add force to this deci- 
sion, th# palace and its galleries were surrounded 
and filled by guards. All public debates during 
the session were prohibited, and a ticket from 
the police was required for admission. These 
tickets were distributed amotig Russian generals, 
officers of government and their families, and crea- 
tures of the court. Before such an auditory, dis- 
cussion^ of the most sacred interest to the nation 
were to take place. I No patriot could behold, 
without tears, the senators and fathers of the na- 



THE POLISH REVOLUTIOJf. 18 

tioDs, descendants of Taroowski, Zamoiaki, Chod- 
kiewicz, and Kosciusko, sitting with sad and 
drooping countenances, exposed to tiie scoffing 
and laughter of those minions of the court. The 
sacred halls were transformed int* a theatre for 
Russian spectators. 

In all the different bureaus! spies held importantl 
offices, and tbus those bureaus became scenes of| 
the most detestable intrigues. Law and right 
ware trampled under foot, and the constitutioB, 
itself was derided. They used to express them-^ 
selves in the following and similar terms ;*— <^ Wha^ 
is the constitution ? It is ah impediment to thd 
administration of the go?ernment, and the course! 
of justice. The Grand Duke is the best consti-^ 
tution." 

A few years had passed away in this wretched 
state of the nation, when, towards 1821, our noble 
patriots, Krzyzanowski, Jablonowski, Plichta, De- 
bek, and Soltyk, conceived the idea of emancipat- 
ing their country by a revolution. Whilst occupied 
with their noble scheme, they were most agree- {' 
ably surprised by receiving information, in 1824, 
of a similar patriotic union in Russia for throwing , 
off the yoke of despotism. Their joy was in- 
creased when they received a smnmons from this 
patriotic union in Russia, at the liead of which 
were Pestel, Releiew, Bestuzew, Kichelbeker, 
Murawiew, and Kachowski, to Join hands with 
them. This junction was effected in Klom on 
the day of the great fair, when Prince Jablonow-* 

2 



14 THE POLISH AfirOLUTION. 

ski became acquainted with some of their mem-^ 
bei%i, and was initiated into their plans. The 
invitation was received bj the Poles with delight. 
Accustomed Id combat for liberty, they offered 
with their whole hearts their aid in the redemption 
of the Sarmatic nation from the chains by which 
they ha4 been so long bound down. 

Soon after this, it was agreed to meet in the 
town of Orla, in the province of Little Russia^ 
where solemn oaths were sweep to sacrifice life 
and property in the eausei Resolutions were 
taken, and the means of tneir execution were 
devised. The Russians promised to the Poles^ in 
case of success, the surrender of all the provinces 
as far as the frontiers which Boleslaw^Chrobry 
had established. This promise, as well as that 
of eternal friendship between the two brother- 
nations, was sanctioned by the solemnity of oaths. 
The day fixed upon for the breaking out of the 
revolution, was the 25th anniversary of the acces- 
sion of Alexander, in the month of May« 1826 ; 
and . BiaTa-Cerkiew in Volhynia, was the place 
selected for the first blow. The reason for choos^ 
ing this place, was, that the whole imperial family 
and the greater part of the army were to assemble 
there, on the great plain of the Dneiper, to cele- 
brate the anniversary of the coronation. This 
occasion was to be improved, to gain ever all the 
well-disposed generals, and at the same time to 
secure the imperial family. In the meeting at;^ 
Orla, it was required of the Poles, that, at the I 



TBB F0LI8H mSVOLUTION. 16 

moment ^ the breaking out of the revdutkMit 
they shoum take the life of the Grand Doke Con- 
stantino. To this proposition, howoMr, Prince 
Jablonowski answered in these well known words : 
'^Russians, brother Sarmatians, yon have sum' 
moned us to co-operate in the holy work of break- 
ing the bonds of sktvery under which our Sarmatie 
race has so long pined. We come to you with 
sincere hearts, willing to sacrifice our fortunes and 
lives. AeJji my dear friends, on this our promise. 
The many struggles in which we have already 
fought for the sake of liberty, may warrant our 
assertions. Brethren, you demand of us to mur- 
der the Grand Duke. This we can never do. 
The Poles have never stained their hands with 
the blood of their princes. We promise you to 
secure his person in the moment of the revolution, 
and, as he belongs to you, we shall deliver him 
into your hands." 

The patriotic associations on both sides endea- 
vored to increase their party, by the initiation of 
many brave men in the army and in civil life. 
In Lithuania, the respectable president of the 
nobles, Downarowicz^ and the noble Rukiewicz 
of the Lithuanian corps, with many other officers, 
were admitted into the conspiracy, and among 
others Jgelstrom, Wigielin, Hoffman, and Wielk- 
aniec. All the plans for the approaching revolu- 
tion were arranged with the utmost circumspec- 
tion, and every circumstance seemed to promise 
success, when the sudden death of the Emperor 



16 TAB POLISH REVOLUtlO^. 

Alexander, at Taganrog, in the early fttt of De- 
cember, 1826, darkened our bright hopes* 

The news of his death had, at first, a stunning 
effect upon the patriotic club in Petersburgh. 
Nevertheless, thej resolved to act. They hoped 
to profit by the troubles between Constantine and 
Nicholas, about the succession. On the 18th of 
December of the same year, the signal for revolt 
was given in Petersburgh. Some regiments of 
the guard were on the side of the patriots, and 
with them assembled great numbers of the people 
ready to fight for liberty. Yet all this was done 
without sufficient energy, and without good lead* 
ers. It was unfortunate, that at the time, colonel 
Pestel, acknowledged by all to be a man of great 
talents and energy, happened to be absent in Mos- 
cow* The people assembled in their holy cause, 
but, being without leaders, began to fall into dis- 
order, and a few discharges of cannon were suffi- 
cient to disperse them. 

As the Grand Duke Constantine, on account of 
his marriage with a noble Polish lady, Grudzinska, . 
in 1823, was obliged to renounce the throne of 
Russia, the imperial power was, by a written doc- 
ument, given to the Grand Duke Nicholas, as the 
eldest in succession after him. 

Some days after the proclamation of Nicholas, 
all the prisons of the realm were prepared to re- 
ceive their new inmates. Petersburgh, Moscow, 
Wilna, Kiow, Bialystok, and Warsaw, were ap- 
pointed for the places of trial. Over the whole of 



tttS POLISH RBTOLUTIOn. 17 

Poland ajq^^^^^^ ^^^ sword of crael revenge was 
suspended. In Petersbnrgh, the martyrs of libertji 
Pestel, Muraview, Reletew, Bestuzew^ Kachow- 
ski, were hong on the gallows, and more than two 
hundred persons of the noblest families were sent 
to Siberia. In Wilna, Kiow, and Moscow, an im- 
mense number were thrown into priron, or trans- 
ported to Siberia. In Bialjstok the Russian gen« 
eral, Wiliaminow, was appointed an inquisitor. 
This iniamous character treated the wretched pris- 
oners with the utmost cruelty. Rnkiewicz,* Jgel- 
Strom, and Wigelin, were exiled to Siberia for life. 

-^ This nobleman (Rukiewicz) had two beantifhl Biiteray Corno*, 
lia and Ttieresa, whose heroic behavior deserves to be recorded. 
He was secretarj of the Patriotic Club in Lithuania, and kept the 
records and papers of the society in the village where he lived, 
near BnJystc^ ; and in order to do this IwaineBs withont disturb- 
ance, he had prepared a little summer-house in the garden near 
his mansion. He happened to be from home when arrested, and 
immediately after his arrest, the police sent a Russian ofllcer with 
gens d'armes to his village, in order to take possessioo of his 
papers. His sisters, who were ignorant of the event, were quietly 
at home when they beheld the ofScer with his suite riding into the 
courtryard. A presaging fear of the truth seized them, bttt gave 
place immediately to an heroic resolution. The yoonger remained 
in the ro&m in order to receive and detain these agents of tyranny, 
whilst the elder, Cornelia, carried in haste some combustibles to 
the summer-house, which was soon on fire, and more than two 
hundred persons, whose names were contained in the register, 
were thus ssved by the presence of mind of that heroic lady. She 
returned to the parlor with the noblest and most delighted mien, 
and, on the ofScer's inquiring as to the cause of the fire, she 
answered with a smile, '^ Gentlemen, I only wanted to 8av# you 
the trouble of some further bnnalities. I have burnt the papers 
and documents of my brother. You may be sure not to find any- 
thing left ; and now I am your prisoner. Drag me along with 



18 THE POLISH RfiVOLUTIOIV. 

In Warsaw, the Grand Duke himsdf undertook 
the business of establishing an inquisition oyer the 
unhappy prisoners. This court was composed of 
persons in the Russian interest, a circumstance, 
the melancholy consequences of which socui be- 
came manifesto Senator Soltyk, an old man sev- 
enty years of age, was flogged with the knout. 
Krzyzanowski, unable to endure the tortures in- 
flic(ed upon himi comaiitted suicide. General 
Procurator Wyezechowski> that unworthy son of 
Poland, sentenced all who were condemned to 
death, to be hung on a gallows, and their bodies 
to be exposed upon the wheel. This horrid sen- 
tence, however, was, notwithstanding all the Grand 
Duke's influence, mitigated by the supreme court 
of the senate, which still contained many worthy 
men under the presidency of the venerable waye-* 
wode, Bilinski. The infamoas Wyezechowski was 
unable to oppose this virtuous old man, whose 
powerful eloquence was a mirror of his noble 



you, to increase the number of your yictims." Both the ladies 
were carried to prison, and treated in the most unworthy manner 
during three years. When these noble sisteni were dismissed 
from prison^ they found themselyes bereft of every consolation. 
They had no parents left. Their only brother, who had been 
both parent and brother to them, was now gone. They could not 
endure the thought of leaving him to pine away so ftur from them 
in chains, and they resolved to partake and thus to relieve his 
sufferings. Regardless of the remonstrances of their friends, they 
left everything, and, tsavelling in the humblest manner, mostly on 
foot or upon the wagons of the peasantry, they undertook the 
journey to Siberia. It is not known whether Providence granted 
them to reach their beloved brother or not. 



THE POLISH BEVOLUTIOK. 19 

heart. President BiliniA], fearless of the threats 
of the Russians, whose briberies he was accus* 
tomed to treat with disdain, guided by the articles 
of the criminal code, altered the sentence of death 
to a few years imprisonment. This mitigation of 
the sentence was signed by all the senators, with 
one exception.* 

After Nicholas had ascended the throne over 
steps ofhlooiy be was crowned, in 1826, Emperor 
of Kussia. Two years after this, in 1828, he was 
again crowned in Warsaw as King of Poland. 
This monarch at first intended not to go through 
with the ceremony of the coronation in Warsaw, 
in order to avoid the oath of the constitution. Yet, 
from fear of revolutionary scenes, he suffered him- 
self to be persuaded to do it, and took the oath, 
like his predecessor i|nd brother, Alexander, to 
maintain the constitution and the privileges guar- 
^antied by it. 

Poland may have suffered under Alexander ; yet 

he loved the nation like a friend, as every one of 

■ 

* To this court, which was caUed the Supreme Court of the 
Diet, and which was established in order to try these prisoners of 
state, was appointed general Count Vinoenti Krasinski, a man of 
great merit, a brave soldier as well as a good citizen, and on this 
account very much beloved by the nation. The soldiers, indeed, 
regarded him as a fkther. Yet this man ce>ukl so far Ibi^ liin>- 
self as to take up the bloody pen to sign the death of his fellow 
citizens — the only one of his nation. It is with painful feelings 
that I name him in this narrative as the enemy of his oonntry^* 
after having been faithfal to it for fifty years, and after having 
made for it the greatest sacrifices. Yincenti SLrasinski, whom his 
country has erased, as a lost son, from the register of her children, 
is a strong example of the great ponsr of Rnssian seduction. 



20 THE POLISH. BETOLUTION. 

•my countrymen will allow. When he was mis- 
taken in his measures, it was, that, surrounded by 
bad men and enemies of our nation, he .was pre- 
vented from knowing the truth. . He was him- 
self too much engrossed in pleasures, to visit the 
hut of the poor in order to obtain information of 
his condition. Poland forgave him all his faults, 
in . the grateful reeoUection that be had restored 
her to a separate existence, and respected the 
constitution. Far different in our eyes appeared 
the present emperor, Nicholas. Partaking of the 
errors of his predecessor, he exhibited none of his 
virtues. Alexander, with a benignant counte* 
nance, permitted every one to approach him freely, 
and his features were never distorted by passion. 
Nicholas, on the contrary, seemed to terrify by his 
veiy look. His lowering, and overbearing eye 
was the true mirror of Asiatic despotism. Every 
movement was that of command ; and his imperi- 
ous air was in true harmony with the ruling pas- 
sion of his mind. Such a sovereign, acting through 
the instrumentality of a brother like himself, the 
Grand Duke Constantine, must needs bring dis- 
tress upon our country. Whole volumes might be 
filled with the relation of the atrocities of this gov- 
ernment. The daily increasing host of spies in its 
employ, among whom even females were found, 
-regarded nothing as sacred, and mocked at the 
most holy institutions. They lavished away milU 
ions of the public funds. Everything was per- 
mitted to them. In short, the intention of this 



THE POL19II REVOLUTION. 21 

goyernment seemed to be to plunge our coontfy ^ 
into the deepest distress, in order to force us to 
the abandonment of every national feelings and to « 
wake us slaves of the Russians. Yet in this hope aK 
they were deceived. The more the nation was . -- 
oppressed)* the more its energy of character was 



^ As already remarked, it would be Impoeeible to deaeribe the 
yarioos kinda of cruelty exerciBed by the Ruaaian govemmeiit. 
Yet> in order to make the reader acquainted with some of theniy 
I shall here state a few facts. — In our country, the distilHng and 
brewing of spirituous liquors, and the planting of tobacco, as well 
as the sale of these articles, w^ a privilege of the landed propri* 
etors. Warsaw, as the capital and the most populous eity, waa 
the best market for these productions^ and all the noUemen eii- 
deavored to bring their produce to Warsaw fbr sale, b thk 
manner they suppled themselves with money taid enhanced the 
value of their grain, while their liquors» as weU as tobaeeo^ couki 
be sold at r&cy low prices, to the pecuniary benefit of all the labor- 
ing classes and the soldiery. These advantages, however, soon 
became an abject of attention to the govenment agents. One of 
their number, the Jew, Nowachowiea, who, by^the greatest impo> 
sitions, had acquired an immense fortuBe, devised a plan for mo- 
nopolizing the production and sale of every kind of Uqnor and of 
tobacco. He obtained the exclusive right of setling them, and all 
the noblemen were forbidden to dispose of these artieles without 
his permission, for whicfa a daty was to fie paid. For this mono* 
poly he paid to the government 2,000,<)00 of Polish giklera 
($SSd,3dS 1-S) for which he more than doubly indemntfled himself 
by the enormous taxes levied upon the consumers of thestf articles. 
This innovation, so oppressive to the poorer classes, and invented 
merely to enrich this Jew and his partners,, irritated all the land 
proprietors, and still more the laboring classes, who were suffer- 
ing by it. For two years in succession petitions wer6 made for 
the reformation of these abuses, but the government only insisted 



upon the prohibition with the tfreatcr severity. Now<qbowiez, 
indeed, employed a guaid,*who wore uniforms. All the environs 
of Warsaw were filled with these guards, and the greatest exces- 
M0 were committed by them. A poor day-laborer, after having 

3 - • ■ 



«>■ 



y 



22 THE POLISH REVOLOTIOK. 

V Bteeled, and the more the love of country devel- 
oped itself. 

Two worthy sons of Poland, Wysocki and 
Schlegel, mourning over the martyrdom of Krzy- 



'r^ 



purchased at some distance from the city, some brandy and tobacco, 
carried these articles at evening to Warsaw. On his way he w«i 
stopped by these men. They took all from him, and demanded a 
beavier fine tban the articles were worth. As the poor man was 
un«Ue to pay the fine, they abused him, and were about to carry 
•him to prison. He succeeded, however, in making Mb escape^ 
and, as it was in the vicinity of the residence of a nobleman by 
the name of Biernacki, hd" sought shelter on his estate. The 
guards in pursuit entered the mapsioo of this nobleman. Bier- 
nacki heard the tumult of the guard seizing and roughly handling. 
the poor man, and, ascertaining the cause of the disturbance, he 
-oensured them for their inhumanity about such a trifle. In order, 
however, to save the man from further infoits, he retained him, 
with the intention of sending him the next day with a note to 
Nowachowiez for his exculpation. The very moment that Bier- 
nacki was eccupied in writing the letter, an officer of the gena 
d'arme? with four priratcs, stepp^ in. Biernacki inquired the 
cause of this vlsily and wag told in answer, -that he 5Tas arrested 
for having protected a d»flrauder. Thus, mirrounded by four Sol- 
diers, this man was publicly carried through Warsaw to the prison 
of the Carmetil«ir. Not salis^ed with tMs, Nowachowiea suc- 
ceeded in obtainhig from the Grand Duke, who hated Biernacki 
es a patriotic Polo, a s^iadron of Ruesian Hukms, consisting of 
200 horse, to quarter (Sr a whole week on his estate, in exeeution, 
as it is termed. The Russkm st$ldters took possession of all the 
buildings on the estate. In the apartment which they used for 
barracks, they broke all the furniture, lustres, pianos, &c., and 
•carried in their straw for sleeping. In the court-yard they made 
a fire, for which they used the pieces ef furnitnre for fuel. They 
took the wheat from the barns to feed thaar horses, and butchwed 
th^cattle. In short, the most shameful depredation3 and excesses 
were c^mitteil by officers autl soldiers, regardless of the situation 
of the lady of this nobleman, who was confined in childbed, and 
who for a whole year was in danger of her life from the conse- 
quences of her terror. This barbarous order of the Grand Duke 






V 



* . f^ POLISH kivoLUTipn. 23 

zanowodii, Soltyk, Dembek, and Plichta, and 
meditating on the distresses of their country, re-4 
solved to attempt ita deliveraacc. By these two 
youDg champi<His of Poland, the ilrst idea of the ' 

ruined dw fortune of ttiBt unhappy nian, and Utc amuuot of hk '' 
property deitroyed may be estimated at lean ai Ccnm 70,000 to 
80,000 gilders. Biemncki wn^ Imprisniicd fur a whole jeHr, after , 
which he was disOhsMfed to waep uver the ■ufTerlngs uf hie wife, 
and bis ruined foKuna. The poor uffimder wan putiUhed vitb 
SOO bloWB of the knout, of nhjcb he died in a fen daya. 

The second atory perhaps surpasses the fumier in cruelly, and 
would suit the times of Nero. Generat Roznieckj, and tiw vice 
pmident of the city of Warsaw, Lubowiecld, had their agenta, 
wlio tntTciled through the Auntry in order to superintend the 
•errioes of the eeu'et police. Arnqpg them waa a Jew, named 
CDBceplion. Hetravelledthrauili 
vbere found pretexts for accusa- 
> had to jmy him ttnes to seture 
ik up vest aara, that were D*ver 
They iWTB divided with Roa- 
nieeki, Lubowi^cki, 'Mucrot, and Sehlee, with aome Russian 
generals, and the eervants t^tbo Grand Duke, Kochanowski and 
Trize, all of whom, like tbia Jew, nwdo inurlftnse fortunes,' some 
of them to the ataount of hundreds of thousande. When, in order 
to encourage tha manufactures of the country, tbe importation of 
alt^noadclotlu, cotton and linen gsods were forbidden, Btmbaum, 
ID secret understanding with bis superiors, found out the way of 
drawing to hinuelf tlie grcate.^t advantn^'cs from tbia decree. He 
persuaded two other Jews, by the iironii:iO of a part of the gain, 
and of bis protection, to smuggle these articles, aiiU to sell ihom 
among the gentry of the country. A place on the O'ontiers waa 
selected for a depot of these contraband wares, wliich tlio country 
noblemen purchased in ignorance of their unlawful importation, 
BDd induced by their low prices. On a sudden, Birnbauni viailed 
fteae districts, examined the warehouses of the noblemen, found 
the contraband goods, and forced tbcm to the olternativo of ^ther - 
paying him a large sum of mo^ey or going to prison. ^a»y, for 
tbe B^e of peace, paid the fines impoecdj others, who refused, 
wer» impriaoned. By such means, this Jew, aa was found after- 



24 



THE POLISH REVOLUTKA. 






revolution was coaceived. They communicated 
% their hopes to several other patriots, and thus was 
formed the Patriotic Club. This association, nour- 
ishing in their secret breasts the hdlj spark of lib- 
erty, incre^ed it soon to a flaming light, by which 
the whole notipn was led to honor and glory. — 
These heroic men fearlessly persevered in their 
eudeavorg, during five years, exposed to the great- 
est dangers, and amidst thousands df spies. Wit- 
nesses of the continually aggravated oppression of 
their country, they became more and more animat- 
ed to risk every thing for their holy object. ' -- 
While this tyrannical government was exulting 
ia the success of ks measures, and the honor and 
morals of pur country were fast declining, -the rev- 
c^tttton of France occurred, and it instantly roused 
every mind to a comparison of our state with that 
of the French, who had thrcoyn off the yoke of a 
Machiavelian dynasty. The three days of July 
were days of joy, not otily to every brave son of 
France, but to every patriotic heart in Poland* 

wards by. the records arid documents of the police, brought to 
prison more than a hottdred persons, who were treated in the 
most barbarous manner. They had no food given them but her* 
rings without water, and«nany of these unfortunate persons died 
in consequence^ At last Bimbaum fell out with his accomplices, 
on occasion of the division of profits. He had them, likewise, 
thrown into prison to perish there. Their families, however, 
accused him at their Kahal,* or Council of the Jews, and 1^ 
means of money contrived to have him arrested. He was poi- 
r floneS in his prison, as many persons of consequence were found 
|o be implicated in his impositions. 

* Kahal it a Jewish court of admiaistnition, composed of the elders, who &i<e 
fMponsible to the eoTemnient for their nation, and are of great authority. 



\ 



^9k 



' THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 25 

How much were they enraptured, who hitherto 
in secret had been laboring for the redemption of 
their country ! The happy result of those glorious 
days .wa* a peal^f terror to the Grand Duke Con- 



Btantine> and to the whole swarm of agMts in his ^ 
tyrsranical sway. It gave them a pi^sage of their t 
approaching retribution. Yet, instead of adopting / 
milder measures^ and endeavoring to propitiate the ' 
nation, their cruelties went on as befcMPe. The 
government had, indeed, advanced too far in its 
barbarous system to drat^ back* The activity, of ' 
t||B spies was redouliled* From the first reception ' 
of the news of the French revolution, there did not 
pass a. day on which some persons were not im- 
prisoned ' in Waip w or the provinces. On the 
night of the 7tb of September, forty students were 
seized in their beds and carried to prison. 

Again, thk new revolutionary eruption of Belgi- 
um, cheered and encouraged the fieart of every 
patriotic Pole. The hour for throwing off the yoke 
of tyra^Ay was fast approaching. The leaders of 
the revolution succeeded in communicating their 
sentiments to continually increasing numbers. — 
Many officers of the 4th regin^t of the line and 
of the sappers were initiated. Yet at this very 
* time, when the revolution was every moment ex- 
pected to break out, the Russian despot, in concert 
with Prussia and Austria, commenced his prepara- 
tions for a war against France and Belgium. The 
Polish army was destined to serv^as the vanguard 
of this expedition, and Modlin and Warsaw were / 



ntV 



'% '■ 



H 



26 THE POLISH REVOLUJION. 

.' Stored with large quantities of arms and ammuni- 
/ tion from Russia. All the regiments were com- 
pleted^ and the order for marching was momenta- 
rily expected. 

These circumstances attracted the notice of our 
f patriots^ and they decided to accelerate the revohi- 
/ tion, in order to anticipate the march of the army. 
I The eruption was hastened by the following event. 
The citiEens of Warsaw were obliged to furnish 
quarters for the officers of the army. To lighten 
thi^ burden, and to avoid various inconveniencesi as 
well as to accommodate the officers, by an undf|- 
standing with the inhabitants, it was determined, 
that instead of furnishing quarters, aijuartering tax 
should be paid. It was intended in -this i^gulation 
to proportion the tax to the size of the houses, and 
consequently to the profit which the proprietors 
would derive from letting them. The tax would 
in this way be eqnalized, because, wherever levied, 
it would be attended by a proportionate compensa- 
tion, and it was satisfactory to the inhabitants. 
This regulation, however, was executed in an en^ 
tirly different manner. In many cases the heavier 
taxes were paid by the poorer inhabitants, and in- 
deed they had spmetimes to provide quarters in ad- 
dition to the payment of the tax. All the person^ 
employed by th^ police as spies, and who had by 
vile means acquired immense fortunes and kept the 
finest houses in Warsaw, were exempt both from 
the tax and the^roviding of quarters. The money 
collected for the tax was purloined by the commis- 






^r 



THE^POIJSH REVOLUTION. 27 

sioners for qoartering, who thus amassed mHlions 
of gilffers.* 

A short time before the revolution, the gross im- 
positions of this commission were discovered. The 
inhabi^nts of Warsaw begao to murmur against it, 
'ahaTaddressed the government for the removal of 
the persons employed, and the substitution of oth- 
ers in their places, who should be deserving of the 
confidence of the citizens. Among others, the de^ 
poaitioD of the president of tbe city, Wojda, was 
demanded ; and wf^n the government refused to 
#HnpIy with the request,, be was publicly insulted 
and flogged in the streets. The discontejit of the. 
citizens, in particolar of the poorer classes, contin- 
. ued to idcrease, and of this discontent the patriots 
made use in endeavoring to propagate their views * 
of the necessity of a revolution. Public opinion 
wa« from day to day expressed more boldly. Pa- 
pers were pasted up in the stwfets, with inscrip- 
tions such as these : '* The dwelling of the Grand 
Duke witt be- let from next new year's day.'' — ^ 
"Away with tfte tyrants! Away with the barba- 
rians to Asia!" A great concourse of citizens as- 
sembled one evening befbre^tjie city hall, and 
demanded the punishment of the quartering com- 
missioner, Czamecki, who, in his desperation, 

committed suicide. 

- 

• One man of the name of Czarnecki, a commissioner of the 
quartering bureau, in a short time made by these means two mil- 
lions of gilders ; and this robber of the -pmt carried his luxury so 
far as to make use of bathing tubs lined with silver. 

• J 



•t 






28 THE POLISH REVOLUTIOll. 

The holy moment was now fast approaching, and 
Warsaw was in anxious expectation. Faar and 
terror was painted in the faces of the spies, while, * 
on the other hand, all true patriots 'were in raptures 
of joy, and waited impatiently for the moment to 
strike the blow. For several nights the whole 
garrison of the city had been under arms, by the 
ordeit of the Grand Duke, who, tortured with the 
consciousness of so many crimes, had no rest, and 
surrounded himself with large bodies of guards. 
A liundred gens d'armes were on horseback for 
many nights, constantly bringing in their victimt. 
b Strong patrols of Riissian soldiers traversed the 
Istreets. All was in vain. His mercenaries could 
not protect the tytant. The word was given, the . 
* oath was sworn, to fight for our sacred rights and 
the freedom of our country. 

An event which served to irritate all minds, and 
f hasten the revolution, was the arrest and imprison- 
i ment of eighty students. These brave young men 
were as^mbled in a private house, in order to pray 
f:o God in secret for the souls of thrtr murdered an- 
ioestors, on the anniversary of the storming of Praga, 
by the bloody Suv^row, in 1796, when none were 
spared, and Praga swam with blood, and was strew- 
ed with the corpses of 30,000 of its inhabitants. 
Neither old men, women, children, nor pregnant 
mothers, were spared by the barbarous Russian sol- 

\diers. In memory of this event, the patriots had 
every year met |^ secret prayer, since public de- 
votions on the occasion had been forbidden by the 



TUS #OUSH RKVOLUTIOlf. 29 

Grand Duke. The abovemcotioDed stodents, with 
some priests, were in the act of worship, praying 
to^the Almighty, smd honoring the memory of their 
forefathers, when the doors were broken open with ^ 
great violence, and a number of gens d'armes, undeA 
their captain, Jurgaszko, with a company of RusJ 
sian soldiers behind them^ entered the apartment. 
Our bravejyouths continued their prayers upon their 
knees about the altar, and in that position] suffered 
themselFes to be( bound, and dragged away to pri- 
son. /But this was the last act of cruelty the Bus- 
aUn government was permitted to perpetrate, for 
it exhausted the patience pf the nation. The 
measure was full, and the hour of retribution was 
at hand* The news of this outrage was spread ' 
through Warsaw with the quickness of lightning, ^, 
and it thrilled every heart. This was the occasion* 
for fixing upon the 29th of November, as the day 
for commencing the revolution, on which day the 
4th Polbh regiment, many of the officers of which 
were among the initiated, were to mounf guard in 
Warsaw. 



« 



CHAPTER II. 

Priaeiplev of tlM Revoltttion.— Tbx Fikst Ni«ht.— Attack on <k« Bamelw 

of the Rustian Cavaliy. — ^Their Disperaion. — ^Attempt to Mcute tfio ponon 
of the Grand Duke. — Captitfo of Russian general officer! and spies.^ — ^Actions 
with detaofaed bodies of Rossian cavaliy. — Two •ompanies of Pc^h light- 
infantry join the patriots. — ^Death of Potocki and Trembicki. — The Russian 
inftntiy attacked aid dispersed.^ — Amnment and assembling of the people.^* 
DetachvientB sent to Piaga. 

It is undeniable that the history of our nation 
abounds in heroic acts and glorious passages. Need 
we instance the times of Boleslaw, Casimir, Jagelo, 
Augustus of Waraa, and Sobieski ; or the deeds of 
our renowned generals Czarnecki, Chodkiewicz, 
Tarnowski, Sapieha, Kosciusko, and Poniatowski? 
Yet, in our whole history, nothing transcends this 
last revolution ; and indeed few more memorable 

'events have ever occurred. Its plan was based on 
the purest motives, and this constitutes its peculiar 
character. Those true sons of Poland, Wysocki 
and Schlegel, had no other design than to regene- 
rate public morals and the national character, which 
had already begun to deteriorate under Russian in- 
fluence ; though, perhaps, there may have mingled 
with these another impulse — that of vengeance for 
the ignominy to which we were suEgected. These 
feelings were shared by the whole nation— certainly 

, a rare instance in history. Inspired by the example 
of the brave, even the wavering joined in upholding 
the good- cause, to* support which the sword was 
drawn. It was |bis unanimity which emboldened 
us, small as our bumbet-s- were, to meet that colos- 



# 



THK POU8H B£VOI«DTIOV« 31 

sal power dreaded by all Bikrope. We were not 
animated to this unequarstniggle bj any vain desire 
of conquest, bat by a resolattoo to shake off a yoke 
so disgraceful, and by the wbh to preserve oor civil* 
ization, and to extend it even to Russia. In draw- 
ing the sword, every Pole bad in view not only the 
freedom of his own country, but that of his Sarma- 
tiaii brethren also. The Poles believed that Russia 
still remembered those martyrs of liberty, Pestel, 
Bestuzew, Morawiew, Kachowski, and Releiew, 
who suffered an ignominious death, and more than 
five hundred others who were sent in chains to Si* 
beria. We belkved they would bear in mind, that, 
in 1824, they themselves summoned us to fight, side 
by side, with them against despotism. Their words 
were still in our menM>ry — ^^ Poles, help us in ow 
holy cause ! Unite your hearts with ours ! Are we 
not brethren ?" Unworthy nation — soothed by the 
momentary blaBdishments of the autocrat, who 
scattered his decorations widi a lavTsh hand, they 
forgot their own past sufferings and the ftRure that 
awaits them. They suffered themselves to be led 
against those who were in arms for the liberty of 
both nations. At the very time when the funeral 
rites of those who had died in battle, Russians as 
well as Poles, were being celebrated in Warsaw 
and all the provinces, they burned our villages, and 
murdered our fathers and brothers. Russians! You 
have covered yourselves with et^rnal shaiae, in the 
eyes of the whole world. Evei^the nations you 
consider your friends and aHies conjl^emn you ! 



« 



92 THS POUSM R£yOLdTI01V« 

THE FIRST NIGHT. 

Tbe patriots assembled early in the morning of 
the 29th of Norember, to renew their oaths and 
ask the blessing of tbe Almighty on their great 
undertaking. The moment approached* Seven in 
the evening was the hour appointed for the com* 
mencement of the revolution. The signal agreed 
upcm ^as, that a wooden house should be set on 
fire in Szulec street, near the Vistula. The pat* 
riots were scattered over the city, ready to stir up 
the people on tbe appearance of the signal. Most 
of them were young men and students. Some 
hundred and twenty students, who were to make 
the beginning, were assembled in the southern part 
of Warsaw. All was ready. At the stroke of 
seven, as soon as the ^ame of the house was seen 
reflected on tbe sky, many brave students, and some 
officers, rode through the streets of that part of the 
city called the'lOld Town, shouting ** Poles ! breth- 
ren ! theTbour of vengeance has struck ! The time 
to revenge the tortures and cruelties of fifteen 
years is come ! Down with the tyrants ! To arms, 
brethren ; to arms ! Our country forever !" 

The excitement spread through this part of the 
city with incredible rapidity. The citizens flocked 
together from all quarters, shouting ." Down with 
the tyrants ! Poland forever I" At the same time 
a hundred and twenty students left their barrack 
(which is called ^ Hotel of tbe Cadets, and is sit- 
uated in the rq^algard^ns of Lazienki) under their 







# 



tHE POLISH RfiVOLCTIOlf. 83 

gallant leaders, Wysocki and Schlegel, and marched 
to the quarters of tbe Russian cavalrj, cuirasaeurs, 
faulans and hussars. It was resolred to take imme- 
diate possession of all the chief gates* Tbe issu- 
ing out of the Russian troops was thereby rendered 
very difficult and tffoody, as the barracks were sur- 
rounded by a wide and deep moat, over which there 
were few bridges. On their arrival, the cadets 
found the soldiers in tbe utmost confusion. Some 
vi^ere saddling their horses, some were leading them 
out, and others were occupied in securing the mag- 
azines, ftc. In short, panic asd disorder pervaded 
officers' and men ; each sought his own safety only. 
Our young heroes took advantage of this confusion, 
and after firing a few rounds, rushed with the Aiir- 
rah through the gates. ' This charge sufficed ; a 
hundred and twenty of these young Poles, after hav- 
ing ^killed forty or fifty men with ball and bayonet, 
dispersed some eighteen hundred Ril^iito cavalry. 
Cuirasseurs, hulans and hussars mingled together, 
joined in the cry of terror, and began to seek con- 
cealment'in garrets, stables, cellars, &c. A great 
number were drowned in attempting to cross the 
canal in order to escape into the adjoining gardens. 
As the barracks were closely connected with wood- 
en buildings filled with hay, straw, and other com- 
bustible articles, not a man would have escaped had 
they been fired. The young Poles refrained from 
this, in mercy. The Russians might all have been 
ma/le prisoners ; for so great was^ their panic thaft 
they were not ashamed to beg for quarter on their 



^ 



34 THE POLISH BMrOhOTlQV. 

knees. But these adrantag^ were, for llie time^ 
neglected. The cadets abandoned the attack, aad 
hastened into the city, where their presence was 
more necessary. 

While their conarades were ^attacking the bar- 
racks^ some ten or twelve students traversed the 
gardens towards the palace of the Gmd D«ike 
(called the Belridere) in order to secure his per- 
son.* Some of them guarded the passages on the 
side of the gardens, while others penetrated to the 
tyrant's apartment. But he had escaped through 
a secret door. •. 

On the &ilure of the party of cadets seat to se- 
cure the person of the Grand Dultt^ they left bis 
^ apartments without in the least disturbing the re- 
pose of his lady. As th^ reached the fQ€Kt of the 
stairs they iftel Lubowicki, the v^ice-presideBt of 
the city, coming to the Grand Duke for -instnie- 
tions« Ak iMt>n as he saw them, be begaa to cry 
for aid, but^l^ next moment fell on his knaes and 

• The enemies of our country have endeavored to persuade the 
world that this party was seat to take the Grand Duke's life. It 
18 an in&mouero^iBiiy. The order to seize the Grand Duke was 
given with the noblest intention; — ^to secure him from the dangers 
attendant on a revolution, and to prevent fUrther bloodshed by his 
captivity. The Poles magnanimously intended to requite his loltg 
continued cruelty with the kindest treatment. He Would have 
been placed in safe^, and supplied with all the comforts of life in 
toe palace of Bruhl, which was expressly named for the place of 
his abode. The perstoS sent to seize him were selected for their 
habitual moderation and self-restraint. By his flight, Constantine 
^ceused himself. The just man fears notyag ; the guilty con- 
science anticipates danger. The Grand Duke injured himself as 
well as our e«us&i|r his flight. His melancholy end is well known. 



rat POU8fl RfiTOLUTIOfr. 36 

bo^ed ton his life. They tock bin with them, 
iBtttidiiig to extract from him all the infomuition 
be was able to gire. In the eoort-yard they met 
the Russian general, Oendre,* aid«de-camp of the 
Ghrand Bukd, with some ten or twelve armed men. 

4 — 

They resolutely attadied him. Gendre fell under 
theiar hayooets, and his followers ied. The party 
meeting with no further obstacles, returned to their 
firiends, whom they found at the bridge of Sobieski. 
The company of cadets, after having finished 
their attaek upon the barracks of the Russian car- 
airy, maftrhed along the hig^ Mad which traverses 
the Paik, over the bridge of Sobieski, towards the 
main avenue befween the terraces of the hospital 
Ujasdow mi ^ne side, '^pd those of die Botanical 
Garden on the other. Alffer* having arrived at this 
bridge, they heard the noise of horses in ftont, as 
of cavalry advancing. It was in fact a company 
oi Ruisian GoirassQvrs, who were oWfMN in this 
part of the park, and who were now Tiastening to 



* Gendre was one of the RusBian generals, who was among the 
chief spies. He was dismissed by the deceased emperor, Alexail^ 
der, on account of impositions and even accusations of theft, nor 
was he allowed to show hiAiself in Petersburgh during the life- 
time of Alexander. He arriyed, in 1339, in Warsaw, when it was 
the pleasure of Constantkie to assodate and surround himself 
with the outcasts of society; i^ he made, him his master of hers^ 
and afterwards general and aidrde-camp. The swindling of this 
general and his wife, in Warsaw, surpafted all imagination. 
They cheated and robbed the noblemen, the mercbants, the Jews, 
and their own master, the Grand Duke. According to the ik> 
count^ found during the i^BYoIudon, their debts, in gaming and 
odierwise, amounted to more than a million of Pblish gilders* 



36 ^ THB POLISH R£T0LUTI6tr« 

save the barracks. , Immediatelji'a *plan was fbnaed 
to receive tbem. The caiiets, formkig ia a liDe, 
coneealed* themselves in the Park^ near the (street- 
The cuirasseiirs came up ; they were permitted to 
advance, and >vere then received wit If a fatisk fire. 
The heavy- cavalry^ who qoqld not turn in -this nar- 

• row road, suffered severely. Sixty bodies .were 
found on the spot. .The rest' fled in the greatest 

^ disorder. From this bridge, that handful of brave • 
young men passed tfie street of Wieyska, and, 
after arriving at 4he barracks of Radziwil, th^ 
met a s<]^adron of ^Uissian hussars returning from 
a patrol. *At the same time they heard tke Ilus« 

^ s^m caMilry in pursuit, who had^ gained time to« 
mount at their barracks. , This was a critical mo- 
ment, but it was mflt "IHth resolution. One half 
th^w then^Ives into the ditch in order to receive 
the hussars ; and the others formed a platoon, and 
with huilfMlir^aiuI the shout of/«. Poland fiMBver !" 
discharged InQir pieces and attacked the cuiras* 
seurs in their rear, at the point of the bayonet. 
The Russians w^re thrown into disorder, and fled 
with the gve^test precipitation, leaving many dead . 
behind them. 

The cadets, ^ not having lost a single man in all 
these skirmishes, qiriv^ at the part of the oity, 
Mlle4*the Nowy-S*^iat, (o* the New World,) and 
the Trzy Zlote Ipeyze, (the Three Golden Cross- 
es.) Here they found two companies of Polish 
• !i|ht infantry, and with thgm the two Polish gene- ' 
rati}, Stanitlaiiis Potocki and Trembicki, who Vere 



• 






Tfl£ POIJ8U REVOLUTIOM. 9t 

^iag coHunandB tor restoring order by forcei and 
for arresting the assenibled inhabitantt. The coat* 
paaj of cadets arrived, and hailed the light ia£uH 
trj with the following words :^* Brothers ! Are 
you here to shed the blood of your brethrea? 
Have you forgotten the Russian tyranny ? Cocne 
to our embrace^ and hand to hand let m attack 
the tyrants* Fdaad forerer !'' This address was 
enough. They disobeyed the commandt of their 
unworthy generals, and joined the cadets and the 
populace. When the two generals had the mad* 
ness to reproach the soldiers, some of tbe cadets 
went to them and told them in a iew words the 
state of a&irs, and on their knees and with team 
intreated them not to forsake tke cause of their 
cooalry. To Stanislaus Totocki the command of 
the army was offered. At the same time they 
were both warned of the fatal consequences of 
their refusal. It was of no ayail. Theie infeto- 
ated men could not see the justice of the cause, 
and began to insult the students. Upon thb the 
cadets left them, and they feU victims to the indigo 
nation of the populace.* In this plac9 some gens 



** Every Pole lam^ited the melancholy fate of Stanislaus Po- 
t#ckL He was one of the most honest of mM)« snd hdbved bf 
the amiy and the whole nation. He always kept alo«f Orom all 
familiar intercourse with the Russians, and his house was a true 
Polish dwelling. He had always scorned* Russian protection; 
and, to every patriot, the end of this man« who had beosoM guty 
In thesenrieeof his country, is asadrecoUectioB. Yst every os« 
naust confess his death was just, and cannot be-a rapfoech Id hit 
eountrymeni nnca he listened neither to the aMet mat fht !»• 

6 



S8 THE FOI.I8H RETOL0TIO1I. 

d'armes, who undertook to disperse the citizenSf 
were killed. After the union with the two com- 
panies of light idfantry, it was decided they should 
both march to the street of Szulec^ on the left 
bank of the Vistula, endeavor there to assemble 
the citizens, and establish a degree of order, and 
after that to take possession of the bridge, for the 
purpose of maintaining the necessary communica- 
tions between Praga and Warsaw during the night, 
and to defend it to the last against any attack of 
the enemy. 

The cadets marched directly into the city through 
.the Nowy^Swiat, singing patriotic songs and shout- 
ing " Poland forever !" Every where the citizens 
answered their shouts with the greatest enthusi- 
asm, and joined the tanks of those brave youths. 
Both old and young men, and even women, left . 
their dwellings iii order to increase the numbers of 
the liberators of ' their country. ' In theic passage 
through that street this company made prisoners of 
many Russian generals, officers, &c. who were on 
their flight. After advancing as far as the palace 
of the Vice^roy they met the Polish general Hauke, 
and colonel Mieciszewski. These worthless men, 
accompanied by some gens d'arraes, were on their 
way to the Grand Duke in the Belvidere. Some 
cadets stepped in their way, and exhorted them to 



tnatieftOf hia brethren, and thus publicly avowed his adherence 
ta the cause of deBpoti8m.>^A8 to general Trembizki, he had 
always been a owalure of the Eassians, and a proud and mis- 
aUivousouui. 



THE POLIStt BKTOLinnON. 90 

dismount and surrender themselres. Instead cf 
answering, general Hauke drew a pistol and 
wounded one of them, which act cost him and hia 
ccmipanion their liyes.^ 

In the same manner general Siemiontkowski,, 
with some gens d'armes and aoldiersy endeavored 
to disperse and arrest the citizens assembled in the 
SaxoB'platz. He, likewise was a Russian insim- 
menty and was hated by the nation. 

Whilst ibis companj of cadets was engaged in 
the south part of the city, the 4th regiment^ a bat-^ 
talion of which had mounted guard, were actire in 
another quarter. This regiment, as toon as the. 
signals were given^ revolted. The battalkm on 
gu^d beat the alarm-dram at every guard-house^ 
and the two other battalions formed for the attack 
of the Russian infantry in their barradts caBed tW 
barracks of Sapieha. The shouts of the soldiers 

. ■ I H ' ' ■ ' ■ ■ ' ■ II II ■ I I i» 

• 

* The early part of the caner of fcneval Haofe^ was not with- 
out merit, but it waa tarDished by hig later conduct He was bom 
in Germany, and came to Poland, under the reign of Stanislaus,, 
aa a poiur mechanie. After leaving hia trade be was enrolled In 
the anny, and advanced rmpidiy in the revolutionafy war nnder 
Kosciusko, in which he distiagnished himself by military ikill. 
In the wan under Napoleon he defended the fortress of Zamose 
with great valoar. Bot, from tlM beginnbig of the Russian sway 
and the anival of the Grand Duke at WanaWi this man became 
one of his chief ipinions, and by fawning and intrigue obtained 
the post of Minister of War. In the same year he was raised to 
the nobility, and was made cosnt, senator, and wayewode. I» 
the whole history of Poland the rapidity of this adyaneemens is 
unexamined. Hauke received these dignities as a reward lor his 
oppression of his infbriors, and for acts of injustice of every kind. 
As for Hieeiszewaki, he had always been a viHain. 



40 XHS rOU9H RSTOLDTIOH* 

and eitirons adrancing to the attack mingled with 
die noise of the drams on every side. A great 
number of Russian general officers and spies were 
taken in their flight, in the street of the Little 
Tikeatre, and the street of Napokoo. 

As soon as the numbers assembled would admit 
of it^ divisions were detached to liberate the pris- 
onessj espeeiallj those in the Franciscan and Car- 
melite prisons. These prisons, always guarded by 
Russian troops, were stormed* The Russian sol- 
diers were driven in, and a massacre commenced 
in the corridors, where a great number of them fell 
by the bayonet, together with many police officers 
and turnkeys. The doors were broken down — 
and au indescribable scene took place, when the 
victims, ahready sentenced, perhaps, to death, or 
reserved fof tortures, were set at liberty. With 
teats in their eyes, they fell into the arms of their 
delMrerers* Hercy a fiither found a sou — there, a 
son ^ a father. Many of the emaciated captives 
could only creep to meet the embraces of their 
brethren^ But what was most shocking, was the 
appearance of four ladies who had been incarcera- 
ted for having resisted the brutal advances of cer- 
tain Russian generals They were reduced to 
mere skeletons. There was not one of the spec- 
tators who did not shudder and weep at the sight, 
and swear to avenge them. A hundred and sev- 
enty students, and from forty to fifty older persons, 
Polish soldiers and citizens, all innocent victims of 
the system of espionage, were rescued from these 
two prisons. 



THE POLISH RirrOLUTlON. 41 

Tbe above mentimied battalioiis of the 4th and 
tfae battalion of sappers marched to attack the 
Russiao infaDtTy in the barracks of Alexander and 
Stanishms. On their arrival there, they found 
some companies under arms, and summoned them 
to sarrender. Instead of complying, they began 
to fife, and our soldiers fell instantly upon them, 
with the ^^hurrah.'^ They were dispersed in a 
moment, and many officers and soldiers were made 
prisoners. So panic struck were imany of the offi- 
cers of tbe Russian guard that they did Sot hesi* 
tate to creep head-foremost into the cellars, whence 
tbey were dragged out by the legs. The Russians 
fled from the barracks aiw] the city in the utmost 
&8ordef, and took sefiige beyond the Powonzki 
barrier. 

After all tfaeee successes, the Bonhem, eastern, 
amd western parts of the city were occupied, at about 
noon, by divisions of patriot soldiers and citizens. 

A small part of the south side oi the city only 
was now in possession of the enemy's cavalry, 
who had at last left t|)eir barracks. A few houses 
opposite the Lottery Buildings were set on fire, as 
a signal for assembling. Strong patrols were sent 
to the western part of the city, and by them all 
the public treasures and the bank were secured. 
One of these parties, composed of sappers, met 
the Russian colcmel, Sass,* in his flight. As he 
dM not stop at their challenge, he was shot. 

* This bad ■mn was one of the principal inBtruments of our 
oppresBon; He was one of the chiefs of the spiesj and his par- 



42 THE P0LI8H RfiYOLUTION. 

When the city had been nearly freed of the 
Russians, great multitudes hastened to the arsenal 
for arms and ammunition* Here they found the 
Polish general Blummer, who was rash enoogh to 
resist. He ordered his soldiers to fire on the peor 
pie, but they refused to obey, and joined their 
brethren. This general was slain, — ^a just punisli- 
mept for his murderous intentions. All the apart- 
ments were immediately opened, and more than 
80,000 muskets, pistols, sabres, and carbines were 
obtained. They were distributed with admirable 
good order. 

' The people, being now armed, were arrayed in 
divisions, under different commanders, and sent to 
various parts of the city. Parties were appointed, 
to patrol the streets and arrest all spies* and Rus- 



ticular business was to obseire all foreigners coming to Warsaw. 
He invited them to his house to ascertain their characters, and 
was assisted at his soirees in his base designs, by the fbmale spies. 
Under the show of the utmost cordiality, by presents, and by 
means of love affairs, he was wont to endeavor to draw them to 
the Russian interest, in order to use them as spies in their own 
Countries. He often succeeded, and several foreigners might be 
named, who came to Warsaw on the most innocent bcunttess or to 
gratify their curiosiQr, but who, after having frequented the parties 
of Sass, and handled Russian gold, returned to their own country 
to betray it. Such are the means by which Russia steals deeper 
and deeper into the heart of Europe. 

* The chief of spies, general Rozniecki, escaped. He was one 
of the most vieious characters imaginaUe : his crimes surpass ex- 
pression. He was the oldest general in the Polish army, in which 
he had served forty years. He entered the service under king 
Stanislaus. Under Napoleon he commanded a brigade, and sub- 
sequently a division of cavalry. Of his character, while in the . 



THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 4S 

uian officers who might attempt to fly. Thej 
arrested upwards of three hundred. One of these 
patrols went to the office of the secretary of iipies, 

Macrot, to seize his person and papers* This man 

.■III 11 , ■ II 

service of Napoleon, not much is known. Under the governnMnt 
of Jliissia, this man, already sixty years old, degraded Umself 
irredevmably by becoming one of the most atrocious and detest- 
able tools of tyranny. A volume might be filled with the history 
of his intrigues, swindlings, and other crimes. As chief of the 
secret police, he had under him many agents whom he sent through- 
out the land to extort money for him on tinjwit pretences. Wo to 
the unhappy man who refused compliance with any of his de- 
mands f He was sure to find his fate in a prison. In the army, 
those who bribed him were promoted. Rozoiecki was the inti- 
mate friend of the Grand Dake. The following anecdote may 
serre to give the reader some idea of his coBSununate art in fraud. 
It was a part of Rozniecki's business to pay the spies, and they 
received their salaries at his house. ' He dlvMed the delators into 
sereral classes, and iwwarded them according to the quickness and 
importance of their information. By his arrangement of thb busi- 
ness he cheated the very spies ! la the room where he received 
their denmiciations he had a chest of drawers placed, behind which 
a clerk was concefled. This clerk wrote down their peports as he 
heard them, taking eare to date them somewhat earlier. When 
the spy bad ended his story and applied for his reward, Rozniecki 
wouM declare that he receUeeted having heard the whole affair 
the day before. He would then leave the room and return with 
the forged record. Thus would he defraud the spy of his shame- 
ful earnings. Accounts of immense sums received by him were 
found in hia hovse ^^unng the revolution. He was more than 
OBce aecused of murder by poison, and other enormous crimes, 
but the proceedings against him were suppressed. On the first 
evening of the revolution this man happened to be in an assembly 
of ques in the City Hall. He was there to give bis instructions. 
On hearing the tumult, his conscience smote him, and he stole 
away without saying a word* Finding a coach at hapd, he offered 
the coachman money y> permit him to ch*ive himself whither be 
pleased. He made his escape in the coachman's cloidc. His 
^£5gy was exhibited pn the gallows seveft days, decorated with ft 
dozen Rusfliaii orders. 



44 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 

had hid himself in the cellar, with some of his 
satellites, and fired upon the patrol. The conse- 
queQcc was that Macrot and his people were mas* 
sacred. 

Toward two in the morning, the quiet of the 
city was restored. Most of the patriots assembled 
in the Ulica Dluga, (or Long Street,) to consult 
on the- measures to be adopted on the following 
day, and the manner in which the natioa should 
be addressed by the patriotic party. They called 
to memory the cruelties of the Russian government, 
and urged the necessity of a revolution to prevent 
the decay of all moral and national feeling. They 
implored the people to aid in thb holy cause, yet 
at the same time besought them never to violate 
the dictates of humanity. ** Dear brethren," they 
said, ^' let no one have a right to accuse us ofcru-* 
elty. May the sanctity of our cause never be 
polluted by barbarous passions. Having a single 
end in view, national freedom, and justice, may 
we prove lions in battle, mild and indulgent to 
defenceless foes and repentant apostates. Breth- 
ren, let unity, love and friendship be ours ! Let 
us forget private rancor and selAslv interest ! Chil- 
dren of one mother, our dear Poland-^et us save 
her from ruin !'' 

These addresses were received by the people 
with the most fervent enthusiasm, and with cries 
of ** Poland forever !'' They swore to fight for her 
while a drop flowed in their hearts, and never to 
forsake the field of valor or the path of virtue* 



THE POLISH REVOLUTIOir. 45 

The assembled muUitude then knelt down before 
the Almightj, to thank him for a deliverance 
accomplished with so little Uloodshed, and to im- 
plore a continuation of his mercies. It was a scene 
whiciv-n^'description can equal. In the depth of 
the night the immense crowds of people kneeling, 
theif figures illuminated by the glare of the fir^ 
lighted in the streets, praying to God th^r deli?- 
erer, presented a aight-to have touched even ty- 
rants, could they have witnessed it. 

When prayers were over, plans were adopted 
for the defence of the city. Some' of the barriers 
were barricaded, and fortified with cannon. Offi- 
cers were sent to Praga with detachments to rein- 
force the garrison at Jthe M)ridge* Wagons were 
also sent to^raga for ammunition. 

As the detachments approached the bridge, they 
perceived that their way was obstructed by a 
bodf of Ru^ian cavalry. This cavalry were not 
aware of the presence of the two companies of 
light infantry who had been sent thithef by the 
patriots. As the cavalry advanced upon the btidgo, 
the light infantry gave them a volley and charged. 
At the samsKimeHhe detachments fell on from the 
Border Street, and compelled them to retire with 
severe loss. Some companies formed by the pop- 
ulace, had already takejn possession of Praga, and 
all was quiet. Jtfany wagon loads of cartridges, 
balls, apd barrels. of powder, were taken from tlo . 
magazine to Warsaw before morning. 

These are the details of rtie first night of our 



46 THR POUSH RETOLUTlOlf. 



rerolatioiu The o^der which^prevailed in all these 
tumults and during the fight, was truly admirable. 
The foreigners then in Warsaw declared that they 
could not enough praise the behavior of the troops 
and populace in the very height of a *revdution. 
^he utmost forbearance was evinced toward per- 
sons and property. No individual was slain or 
abused^ without provocation, nor was any house or 
:«tore entered without the consent of the owner. 
From the open windows of many houses even ladies 
witnessed our deeds, and waved their handker- 
chiefs, without fear of dtinger or insult. They 
were quiet and delighted spectators of the crowds, 
who, after expelling the Russians, moved through 
the streets in perfect (frdcK, shouting songs of joy. 
These were moments in which the l^art of every 
good patrbt rejoiced, and traitors alone bid Aieir 
heads. 



• 






• CHAPTER III. 

Tn FiKST Dax.— ElzpnlHOB of the RomUiii fr^ Wanaw.--Choic« utCMh 
pleki •M CoBmander ia Cfai«r — ^ProTitional Go?«nini«nt, Bode? ihm Preri* 
dency of Prince Adam Caartoriaki. — Depotatioa aent to the Omid Pifca ■■ 
Propositiona and anawer. — Abolition oftha Borean of Police ^—EatabUahaani 
tt tlM NaUonl Gnard^PtoeUmataoM addreaaed to the inhabiCaiMa ef the 
proTincea and the diatant troopa.-— Proriaion for the Rnaaian priaoae«a.--Tb«* 
Academical Legiona formed. — Arriyal of detachmenta from the proTiacea.— » 
The GrftidDnheaoBBenta to leave the fciogdeai, aad addwmi apaoelaaia-' 
tioa to the Polea. 

The first day of freedom, after so nmnj years of 
oppression, was hailed with shouts of *^ Our coun- 
try ! Poland forever !^' At about six in the mom* 
ittg the drums beat for the assembly of the troops 
in all the parts of the city in our possession. 
Crowds floclosd from all sides to the public places. 
It Wlis a scene nerer equalled. The whole people 
assembled, without distinction of rank, age, or sex. 
Old men who were past the use of swords, bran- 
dished th^ir sticks and crutches, and recalled the 
times of Kosciusko. Clergymen, civil officers^ 
foreigners, Jews, even women and children armed 
with pistols, mingled in the ranks. 

The multitude, thus assembled, marched to the 
northern and southern parts of the city, to drive 
the Russians out. The fourth regiment and a 
body of the inhabitants marched into tfie northern 
quarter of Warsshjv, to attack two regimwits of 
infantry who occupied the Champ de Mars an<f ' 
the whole district thence to the barrier of Powazko, 
This division bad with them two small pieces of 



r 



48 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 

cannon. As soon as they reached the point of 
attack they fired a few rounds, raised the "hurrah," 
and threw themselves upon the Russians, who 
made no resistance, but Oed in disorder beyond 
the barrier above mentioned, where the pursuit 
ceased. 

In the mean while, the battalion of sappers had 
marched through the suburb of Cracow and the 
street of Wirzbwa to the southern part of thte city. 
They met the enemy's cavalry, at the Place of 
Saxony, a short distance from the Church of the 
Cross. The Russians discharged their carbines, 
and a brisk fire was kept up until the cry to cease 
firing; and attack with the bayonet was heard on 
all sides. They gave way before the charge, and 
fled in the greatest confusion, as the^ infantry had 
done before them. They were pursued bejond 
the barriers of Mokotow. The whole city was 
cleared of the Russians before nine o'clock. The 
walls opposite the Russian troops were manned by 
soldiers and armed citizens. 

While this expulsion was being effected, some 
of the patriots were employed in the city in choos- 
ing a military chief. They agreed to offer the 
command to Chlopicki.* 



• General Chlopicki, a man of rare merit, begim hla career in 
the struggle for liberty under Kosciusko. In 1807, he was colonel 
co mm a n da n t of the first regiment of the legion of the Vistula, 
.under Napoleon. He had the conmiand of a brigade, and after- 
wards of a division, of the same legion iif Spain. This general 
distinguished himself at^the storming of Saragossa, where the 
Poles performed prodigies of valor, as well as at the battle of 



THE POMSH RETOLUTION. 49 

Towards eleven, general Cblopicki was led bj 
the people, with acclaq^iations, to the hotel of the 
Minister of Finance, where many senators and 
other persons were assembled to take measures 
respecting a provisional government, the security 
of public order, &c. Cblopicki was received with 
acclamations by the chiefs of the nation ; and after 
all had declared their consent, he was proclaimed 
Commander in Chief. He was addressed on this 
occasion hy Professor Lelewell, one of the patriots, 
who, after drawing the picture of our past sufler- 
ings, and comparing it with our hopes of the future, 
concluded with the following words, addressed 
directly to Cblopicki : *.* Brother — take the sword 
, of your ancestors and predecessors, Czarnecki, 
Dombrowski, and Kosciusko. Guide the nation 
that fias placed its trust in you, in the way of 
honor. Save this unhappy country." This cere- 
mony * concluded, Cblopicki was shown to the 
assembled people from the balcony. They received 
him with shouts of " Our country and our liberator 
Cblopicki forever J" Many cried, ** Cblopicki, 



Safinta. Under the Russian government of Constantlnei Cblo- 
pkkt left the army, not being able to endure his commander's 
bnital deportment. The Grand Duke ^ensured the general on 
parade, in an unbecoming manner, saying that his division was 
not in order. Chlopicki replied, " I did not gain my rank on the 
parade ground, nor did I receive my decorations there." He 
asked his discharge the next day. In later times the emperor 
Alexander and the Grand Duke himself endeavored to induce him 
to return to the service, *but Chlopicki never consented. He pre- 
ferred a retired life to the splendor of Russian slavery. This 
gained him the esteem of the whole nation. 






60 TH£ POLISH REVOLUTION. 

rely on us, and lead us to Lithuania !" The gen- 
eral thanked them for thejr confidence in him, 
promised never to abuse it, and swore that he 
would defend the liberty of Poland to the last 
moment. 

The patriots now proceeded to choose members 
of the provisional government. Prince Adam 
Czartoriski,^ Radzivil,t Niemcewicz, and Lelewell 

* Prince Adam CzartorUki was bom on the 14th of June, 1770. 
He is the oldest son of Prince Casimir Czaitoriski, Palatine of 
Russia, and Princess Elizabeth Fleming, daughter of Count George 
Fleming, first treasurer of Lithuania and Palatine of Pomerania. 
The Czartoriski family are descended from the Gedamines, who 
reigned over Lithuania in the thirteenth century, a descendant of 
whom, Jagelon, reigned long and gloriously in Poland. At tHe 
last partition of Poland, Adam Czartoriski and his brother Con- 
stantino were sent to St. Petersburg as hostages. While residing 
in the Russian capital, Prince Adam was on terms of friendly inti- 
macy with the Grand Duke Alexander. This frimidship influenced, 
perhaps, his political career. He was sent as an ambassador to 
the court of Sardinia, and when Alexander ascended the throne, 
he was recalled, and entrusted with the portfolio of foreign affairs. 
He declined this charge for a long time, and at laM accepted it 
at the earnest entreaty of Alexander, on condition that he should 
be allowed to retire as soon as the discharge of his official duties 
should militate against the interests of his country. At the same 
time, he was appointed Curator of the university of Wilna, and 
yet another important duty devolved on him, which was tbs 

establishment of schools in all the Russian provinces of Foknd. 

■ I ■ ' ■ I— —————— ^». 

t Prince Michael Radzivil was bom in Lithuania, on his fknii^ 
estate called Nieswiez. He is nephew of Prince Anthony Radxi* 
yil, governor-general of the grand duchy of Posen, and brother-in- 
law of the king of Prussia. This prince was commander of a 
brigade in the time of Napoleon, and distinguished himself at the 
siege of Dantzic. He retired from service under the Russian gov- 
ernment, and lived privately in Warsaw. He was a man of quiet 
character, aad a sincere patriot, but not of eminent military taknts. 



THE POLISH REVOLUTIOlf. 61 

were elected, and one of the old ministers, Lu- 
becki, was retained to .assist them. This arrange- 



Though the Russians caouot see a Pole m so honorable a station 
without jealousy, the conduct of Prince Adam was so noble as to 
wm the 4iearts of all. He did not surround himself with para- 
sites *, his course was plain and upright, and he scorned the idea 
of receiving rewards from goyemment. He would not even ac- 
cept a salary. « 

In 1908, Czartoriski resigned his ministerial office, bat retained 
his place over the universitj, hoping to do more good in it. He 
increased the number of elementary schools and those of all classes 
of instruction. He reformed the antiquated institutions of the 
unireraity, and gave the whole course of .instruction a more simple 
and convenient form, which was also better adapted to the wants 
of the middle classes of the people. By these means he hoped to 
develope and elevate the national character, in these classes. 

The events of 1812 showed but too plainly that the misfortunes 
which then befel France was owing to the same cause to which 
the previous distress of ^Russia was attributable ; viz. the non-ex- 
istence of Poland. If Poland had remained independent in her 
original extent, the two gigantic powers could not have come In 
contact, and the equilibrium of Europe, now entirely lost, would 
have been preserved. It was, then, a true and necessary policy to 
bring forward the question of the independence of Poland again. 
This was the object Prince Adam Czartoriski kept in view during 
the war between France and Russia, and it was in the hope of 
effecting it that he accompanied Alexander to Paris in 1814. He 
was not anxious without reason. The Emperor Alexander 'satis- 
fied him, in part, and proposed to the Congress of Vienna to erect 
^he grand duchy of Poland into a kingdom. This kingdom received 
a constitution and several other national institutions. An entire 
freedom of trade with the remaining Polish provinces under 
Russia, Austria, and Prussia, was assured to ic AU these 
promises were puUisheil and confirmed by Alexander at Warsaw 
in 1816. Yet, in the very act of confirmation, several privfleges 
which the Emperor had promised to Czartoriski were retracted ; 
and this was owing to the influence of the other powers, and the 
principles of the Holy Alliance. Russian policy made these 
rsftvictions more and more sensibly felt, and unfortunate Poleod 



52 THE POLISH AEVOLUTIOM. 

ment was made public about noon, in order to 

tranquillize the people. 

^^^__^_^___^_^.^^___^.^_^.^.„__^^— ^.^— ^..^— — — ^-^— — "~~^— ^— — ^— ^^— ^— ~^— ^^^^— ^— ^^-« 

beheld, one after another, the institutions so solemnly guarantied 
to her, vanishing away. 

Indignant at these breaches of promise on the part of RaasU, 
Prince Czartoriski resigned the Curatorship of the university of 
Wilna, in 1824, in which he had been the means of effecting much 
good, particularly in the cause of patriotism and liberty ; and in 
order to free himself from all connexion with the intriguing cabinet 
of Russia, he went, with his whole family, on a journey to foreifn 

-countries. 

The prince was proprietor of the beautiful town of Pulawa, 
which nature and art have united to make one pf the finest in 
Europe. The reader will, perhaps, be pleased with a short de- 
scription of this place, which no traveller in the north of Europe 
will fail to visit. The little town of Pulawa is situated about 
eighteen leagues south of Warsaw, on the main road to Lemberg 
in Gallicia, on the right bank of the Vistula. The windings of thia 
noble stream are so happily turned as to present a prospect of both 
its sides, till it reaches the horizon. The breadth of the river near 
this town la nearly three English miles. Its shores are broken into 
little hills covered with wood, in the intervals of whfch fine villages 
meet the eye, and in the distance are seen the picturesque ruins of 
Casimir. The town of Pulawa itself is situated on the declivity 
of a high bank, which declines toward the river in the form of an 
amt)hitheatre. This declivity is laid out as a garden in the purest 
taste, terminating, toward the river, in extensive meadows, planted 
with groves of oaks and poplars, and enlivened by herds of Tyro- 
lesaicattle, cottages, shepherds' cabins, &c., in various styles of 
building. This garden surrounds Pulawa, and is itself surrounded 
by great parks, which extend several leagues beyond it in every 
direction. These are intersected by beautiful avenues of linden 
trees. Among the many works in marble, statues, obelisks, &c. 
the temple of SibyDa, with Its magnificent statue of alabaster, is 
distinguished, as is also the statue of a nymph in one of the grot- 
tos, a master-piece of sculpture. The palace, consisting of a main 
building with two wings, is a noble piece of architecture. Iti 
apartments are rich and splendid. Prince Czartoriski has the 
largest library in Poland, and* the greatest private library in Eu- 
rope, which is open to the public. 



*tf 



THE POLISH RESOLUTION. 65 

The first step taken by the new goreniment was 
to send deputies to the Grand Duke. Thej were 
instructed to demand whether he meant to depart 
peaceably, or to attack the city. Among the 
deputies were Lubecki and Lelewell. They found 
the Grand Duke encamped, with his army, in the 
fields of Mokotow. 

The deputies represented to Constantine the 
consequences that would result from an attack on 
the cityj as well in regard to himself as to the 
nation. They informed him that the army had 
already joined the people, and proposed to him 
that he should depart unmolested, on a prescribed 
route. They promised that he should find every 
possible accommodation provided on that route, for 
himself and bis troops. The Grand Duke de— - 
manded some time for reflection, and finally gave 
the deputies the following answer in writing. 

Art. I. The Grand Duke declares that it was 

^— ^^— >— ^■^~~>''»'~-^>^~-~— — ^-^■•'•» — — ■ — ■ -■ - ■ - ■ . — - — - 

Czartoriflki happened to be in Pulawa when the rerolution broke 
out. Summoned to the helm of Btate by the nation, he hastened 
to demote his exertions to his country. Laudable as his previotw 
career had been, it was excelled by his conduct during^ tift strug- 
gle, io which he represented the beau ideal of virtue and patriotism. 
Through all tb« stormy changes of popular opinion he continued 
firm and unwavering, having but one view, one aim, the good of 
his country. He carried to the chief magistrate's seat the seme 
calmness, the same mildness which had characterized his private 
life. He was never actuated by passion. He considered oU 
Poles as brethren. Though in the sixtieth year of his age, he did 
not shrink £rom the fatigues of war, but constantly accompanied 
Skrzyneeki, to whom he was much attached, in his marches, and 
was at his side in many battles. **His whole character was essea- 
tiaUy noble. * 

7 






n 



THE POtrlfiH REVOLUTION. 



never his intention to attack Warsaw. In case he 
should find himself under the necessity of so doing* 
he will give the authorities notice of Jiis intention 
for^-eight hours before the attack. 

Art* II. The Grand Duke will entreat the 
emperor to grant an amnesty for the past. 

Art. III. The Grand Duke declares that he has 
sent no orders to the Russian forces in Lithuania 
to pass the frontier of the kingdom. 

Art. IV. Prisoners will be exchanged* 

The deputies ^returned to Warsaw with this 
answer, at three o'clock. It was immediately 
published, bfft did not satisfy the people. They 
demanded to know the day and hour of the Grand 
Duke's departure. If he should refuse to obey, 
they declared that they would attack him. It was 
finally concluded to allow him two days for his 
necessary arrangements, and then to send a second 
deputation to insist on his instant departure.^ 



^ The Grand Duke'a army at Mokotow consulted of the follow- 
ing regiments. 

In&ntry. Caralry. 



1. Infantry srenadiers, two battalions 

9. LigTit Infantry 

S. Battalion for instruction 

4. Cuirasseurs of Podolia 4 squadrons 

5. Hulan, Cesaro^vicz 4 << 

6. Hussars of Grodno 4 « 

7. Battery of Horse Artillery 
M. Battery of Foot Artillery 

Total, 



Artillery. 



2000 
2000 
1000 

5000 


800 
800 
800 

2400 



Ifi pieces. 
12 « 



24 



<« 



Of Polish Boldien, he had six companies of grenadiers of the foot 
guard, and one regiment of chasseurs of the guard. These regi- 
ments, however, returned to Warsaw and joined the nation on the 



tHE POtlSH RBrOL0TIO2f« ft 

The provkional governmcBt immediately let 
about restoring ofder to every department c^ the 
administration. The Bureau of Police was abol* 
ished, and a council of citizens was substituted in 
its place, under the direction of the aged and 
worthy Wengrzecki. This man had been presi- 
dent of Warsaw in the times of the grand duchy. 
He was compelled to leave this office, by certain 
persecutions, which he brought upon himself by 
not being sufficiently in the spirit of the Russian, 
government. At the same time the national guard 
Was established, and placed under the command of 
Count LubiBskt. The guard began jtheir service 
on the very same day. They mounted guard at 
the bank and the public treasury, and their patrola 
maintained order in all parts of the city. Thei» 
duties were performed with th^p utmost punctuality. 
All the shops were opened, and the city wore as 
peaceful an aspect as if there had been no araiy 
before it. 

At the same time the provisional government 
sent proclamations into all the provinces, to inform 
the nation of these events. They began with the 
following beautifully figurative expression : ** Poles ! 



second of December. The true cause of the Grand Duke's de- 
mand for time was, that he hoped to exert a secret influence oa 
those of the Polish troops who had not yet joined the people. 
This fact was confirmed by two captured spies, one of whom he 
had despatched to the light-horse in Lowkz, and the other to the 
divisioa of hussars of Siediec. The letters they carried to the 
commanders of these forces urged them, with promises of great 
rewards, to join the Grand Duke. 



S6 THE POLISH ilStt>LUXIOIf. 

The eagle of Poland has broken his chains, and 
will soon have burst through the clouds into those 
purer regions in which nothing shall shut from 
him the light of the sun," The military govern- 
ment issued proclamations to the troops at all the 
distant stations, ordering them to repair forthwith 
to Warsaw. The divisions of chasseurs received 
orders in case of an attack from the Grand Duke, 
to fall on his rear and cut off his retreat. The 
^ city itself was put in a better state of defence ; 
the barriers were fortified, and guarded by strong 
detachments ; all was prepared for an attack. 
The governqj^ent made proper provision for the care 
of the Russian prisoners, of whatever rank, as well 
as of the ladies of the Russian civil and military 
officers who had left Warsaw. The royal palace 
was assigned for the residence of the oflScers and 
ladies ; the priv,ates were lodged in barracks. At 
a later period they were permitted to go about the 
streets and earn money by their labor, in addition 
to their usual allowance. The Russians were so 
touched by this generous treatment, that they 
swore, with tears, never to forget it. 

These details of the first day of our revolution 
for the correctness of which I pledge myself, may 
serve to answer the accusations of some journal- 
ists, who have stated that the commencement of 
the national struggle was marked with the greatest 
atrocities, and that more than forty field officers, 
many subalterns, and large parties of privates were 
butchered for declining to engage* in the cause. 



TH£ POLISH RETOLUTIOIf. 57 

These impeachments of the Polish nation are 
unjust and false. As has been said before, the 
foreigners in Warsaw could not sufficiently praise 
the admirable order with which our first move- 
ments were conducted. Our enemies accuse the 
people of having robbed the public treasuries.-— I 
affirm that not a gilder was lost — neither public 
nor private property was pillaged. 

As the enemy was still encamped before the 
city on the first and second of December, and had 
9» yet given no decisive answer respecting the 
time of his departure, the people, as well as the 
army, were still under arms and upoo the walls. 
At this time the twelve companies of students, 
called the Academical Legions, were organized. 
It was heart-stirring to see these noble youths < 
assembled in arms to defend their country. Many 
of them had just been rescued from prison, and 
could not walk without difficulty. This did not 
damp their ardor ; the hope of fighting success- 
fully for the liberty of Poland renewed their 
strength. The Academical Legions requested to 
be sent to the posts nighest the enemy. These 
two days passed in entire quietness. 

In the afternoon of the second of December, 
general Schenbek arrived from Plock with the 
first regiment of chasseurs. At the same time 
came colonel Sierawski from Serock, with his 
regiment. Both were received with great enthu- 
siasm. Ne\v detachments from the provinces 
marched into Warsaw every day. A truly affect- 



68 TH£ POLISH BJBTOLUTION. 

iDg sight it was to see more than a thousand peas- 
ants, and about fifty peasant girls from the coun- 
try about Warsaw, marching into the city with 
clubs, scythes, and weapons of every description. 
They were escorted by the shouting populace to 
the Bank, and there welcomed by the national 
government. At the request of the people, another 
deputation was this day sent to the Grand Duke, 
to urge his departure, and to infcttm him thaf an 
attack would be the necessary consequence of bis 
refusal. The Grand Duke saw the necessity of 
compliance, and decided to commence his march 
on the following day, by the* prescribed route of 
Pulawa. He issued a proclamation to the Polish 
nation, wherein he promised never to fight against 
those, " whom,'' to use his own expression, " he 
had always loved." He adduced his marriage 
with a young Polish lady as a proof of his affection 
for the nation. At the same time he promised to 
entreat the emperor to grant an amnesty, and to 
take, in general, the mildest measures. He beg- 
ged the Poles to deal gently with the Russian 
prisoners, their families, the ladies, and in short 
with all Russian subjects remaining in Warsaw.* 

• These proclamations, which were immediately published in 
the Warsaw papers, contain clear proof that the Grand Duke had 
no injuries on the part of the Polish nation to complain of, and 
that he himself felt t^at the Poles were constrained to revolt. 



CHAPTER IV. 

The Patriotic Club commence its seMiooi. — Character of that asaociatfoa.-^ 
The Grand Duke departs for the firontier. — Particulara of hia march^ — ^Tb« 
Polish regiments which had remained with him retam to Waraaw. — Their 
reception. — Kjrazynski and Romatowski. — Deputation to St Petersbnrgh. — 
Demands to be laid before the Emperor. — Sier^wski made Governor of War- 
saw, and Wasowiez chief of the staff. — Order respecting the imj. — Arrival 
of volunteers fVom the interior. — Opening of the theatre. — Religioua aolemni- 
ties at Praga. — Chlopicki nominated and proclaimed Dictator. 

On the third of December th^ Patriotic Club be- 
gan its session, under the guidance t)f verj worthj 
persons. The object of this society was, to watch 
over all the departments of the administration, to 
see that the measures adopted were congenial with 
the wishes of the people, and in the spirit of the 
revolution ; and to promote fraternity and union 
throughout the nation. * They desired to repress 
all manifestations of selfishness or ambition, to dis- 
cover and bring before the people the persons best 
qualified for public offices, and, in short, to promote 
the best interests of the nation with unwearied 
zeal. If this club was, at times, led by the fervor 
of patriotic feeling to adopt measures considered 
rigorous by many, their acts were never inconsist- 
ent with the love of country, or their own views of 
the national honor. At this time^ a committee 
was also appointed for the trial of the spies. 

On the morning of the third of December, the 
Grand Duke commenced his march towards Pula- 



60 TH£ POLISH REVOLUTION. 



4 



wa, according to agreement,* and the Polbh regi-- 
ments which had remained with Constantine up to 
this time, now returned to \yat3»w. T*hese troops 
were at first regarded by the people with feelings 

* The details of the Grand Duke's inarch may not be uninte- 
resting to the reader, and at the same time they will serve to refute 
the false report that he was pursued by the Poles. 

Early in the morning of the third of December, the Grand Duke 
left his camp at Mokotow, and marched on the route of Kosienice 
and Pulawa. Agents had been sent in advance in this direction, 
to procure for him every convenience, which he found uniformly 
prepared. In a villag»between Kosienice and Graniza, where he 
halted v^ith his troops, he met intendant general Wolickij^who was 
on his way from Lublin •) Warsaw. Wolicki waited on the 
Grand Duke, in the' hope that he might render him some service. 
Constantine had quartered himself in the house of the curate of 
the village, and received the intendant general in the parlor, where 
the Grand Dutchess LowioE was present. Wolicki requested his 
orders with regard to the accommodation of the troops. Constan- 
tine coldly thanked him, and immediately began to complain of 
the Poles ; in which he was joined by his lady. He reproached 
the nation with the benefits he had conferred on them, and seizing 
Wolicki violently by the hand, added, "And for all this they 
wanted to assassinate me!" When Wolicki, in the most delicate 
manner^ represented that his residence had been entered with the 
best intentions toward his person, the Grand Duke, with yet greater 
exasperation and fury, exclaimed, " They have chased me out of 
the country — but I shall soon return." In his rage he again seized 
Wolicki's hand, saying, " You shall stay with me, as a hostage for 
my generals retained in Warsaw." Notwithstanding the expos- 
tulations of Wolicki, he was arrested %nd detained. He however 
was not long a prisoner, for he soon found mejins to regain his 
liberty. The Grand Duke passed that night at the village of 
Graniza, some of the inhabitants of which Wolicki knew. He 
found opportunity to speak with one of them in the night, told 
him what had befallen, and desired him to raise a false alarm, as 
if the Poles were at hand. It was done. The citizens began to 
shout in the streets, «and Wolicki, profiting by the fright and.di9- 
order of the Russians^ escaped. 



TUC POLISH R£VOLDTI0If« 61 

of iodignation. Such feefings were, however, tooD 
dissipated by the ezplanation^ which were giveo. 
They had been jnisled by their generals, Krasyn- 
ski and Kornatowski. As to general Zimynki, 



;He arrived at Wanaw on tlie foUowing day, asd related his 
adventure, whick was published as an illustration of the Grand 
Duke's perfidy and inconsistency. This eondnot, together with 
his threats, would have justified the Poles in pursuing and taking 
him, with his whole arvy, prisoners. But the nation generously 
suffered this opportunity for revenge to pass by, and adhered to 
the promise of a free passage. 

Ob his arrival in Pulawa, ConstantiSe was received by the 
princess Gzartoriski in the most friendly roanasr, as he also waa 
in Lubartow by the princess Lubomirska. In the latter place, 
general Roszniecki, who accompanied the Grand Duke, demand- 
ed an apartaaent in a pavilion adjoining tkm palace, which was 
designed for the suite of Gqiistantioe. Th^ princess answered, in 
the presence of the Grand Duke, *'Then is no room for traitors 
to their country in my house." 

On the way to Lenczna, the Russian a^^n^met a division'of 
Polish lancers, marching to Siedliec. They halted in order to go 
-through the cereftHNiy of saluting. The Grand Duke, with his 
suite, approached them with an air of perfect (Hendship, shook 
hands with aaveral, and endeavored to persuade them to return 
with hioii. « Hulans," said he, '* do not forget your duty to your 
monarch, but set your comrades a good example." He then 
offer^ them money and other rewards. Indignant at his pro- 
posals, Che lancers replied, ^ Prince, we thank you for the money 
and promises you offer us, but there is no command more sacred 
in our eyes than the call of oitr country ; no greater reward than 
the privilege of fighting lif her cause !" With this, they whe^ed, 
and continued their march past the Russian troops, singing patri- 
otic songs. 

The Grand Duke passed the frontier with his forces on the thir- 
teenth of December, and crossing the Wadowa, entered Volhynia, 
an ancient Polish province, now incorporated with Russia. 

I cannot forbear t^o record the noble conduct of colonel Turno, 
a Pole, and aid-de-camp to the Grand Di&e. This officer had 
been fourteen years Mrith Constantino, and was one of the few 

8 



62 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 

who commanded the grenadiers, he was entirely 
blameless. ' He had intended to join t|je patriots 
at first, but was detained as a prhoner bj the Rus- 
sians. The other two generals petsuaded their 
men that the revolutionary movements were only 
disturbances of the mob, excited by the students, 
and would quickly come to an end. They ought 
not,, they told them, to forsake their legitimate 
government and the Grand Duke. It was impos- 

■ , .. . 

honest mea in his suite. His long endurance of his chieT^ follies 
and rudeness could have had no Other motive than the hope of 
doing good to others, and preventing mischief. Constantiue loved 
him, valued him Jiighly, and was firmly convinced that Tumo 
would remain with film. What was tiis surprise, when, at the 
frontier, Tumo rode up to tak« his leave! At first, he was unable 
to answer. Ader some time he said, with an expression of heart- 
felt grief, " Tumo, and will you leave me— you, upon whom I 
had place^l my greatest hopes — whom I loved so much— who have 
been with me so long .^' Tumo answered with dignity, " Your 
Highness may be assured that I am sorry to part with you. I 
have certainly always been your friend, and I am so stilk I should 
never leave you in another cause-^no, not in the gr^test distress: 
on the contrary I should be happy to share every misfortune with 
you. But, your Highness, other circumstancgs and duties call me 
Qow-«-the highest and weightiest duty^-the duty a man owes to 
his country. Your Highness, I have done 'all that honor a*l duty 
cdmmanded as your aid-de-camp^I have accompanied you to the 
frontier, that I might be your guide a|f long as you should remain 
on Polish ground, and preserve you from every possible danger. 
Now you need me no longer. You are in your own country, and 
my duty as your aid<de-camp being at an end, it is now my sacred 
duty as a Pole to return at the summons of my country." 

• The Grand Duke marched with his corps towards Bialystok, 
where he remained till the beginning of the campaign. In the 
war, he was not ashamed to accept the command of a corps of the 
army, and to fight against those who had treated him so gener- 
ously, his promises to the conirary notwithstanding. 



Til£ POLISH REVOLUTION. 63 

■ 

sible afterwards for these regiipents to learn the 
truth, as they were closely si)rrouiid«d by the 
Russians, and cut oiOf from ^}l communication with 
others. 

Early on the third of December, when the 
Grand Duke had resolved to depart, he visited 
these troops in person, and declared before th^m 
that he left Warsaw only to avoid useless blood- 
shed,, and that order would soon be restored. He 
requested them to go with him, as they were regi- 
ments of guards, in whom the emperop had pecu- 
liar confidence. " Soldiers," he said, " will you 
go with us, or stay and unite with those who 
have proved faithless to their sovereign ?" With 
one voice the wh^e corpj exclaimed, ** We will 
remain — we will join our brethren and fight for 
the liberty of our country. We are sorry that we 
could not do so from the beginning, but we were 
deceived." 

J!he people who had assembled to gaze at these 
unfortunate me\j, with unfavorable and unjust feel- 
ings toward th«m, were disarmed of their resent- 
ment at the very sight of them, and rushed into 
their ebibraces. They were surrounded by the 
multitude, and take*, with joyful acclamations, to 
the Place of the Bank. But though the people 
forgave the soldiers, their indignation remained 
unabated against their generals, and the greatest 
efiorts of the leading patriots were required to save 
Erasynski and Kornatowski from their rage. It 
was dreadful to behold these generals riding with 



64 TilE POLISH REVOLUTION. 

a- 

downcast looks, not daring to look on those whom 
they bad iiit'«ded to betray. Death would cer- 
tainly have been preferable to thus meeting the 
curses of a justly incensed people. Mothers held 
up th^ix children, and^ pointing at the two gene- 
rals» exclaimed, ** See the traitors !" Arriving at 
the Bank, the people demanded that Krasynski 
and Kornatowski should give their reasons for hav- 
ing acted as they %ad clone ; and as the wretched 
men could say nothing in their own defence, a 
gen&ral cry arose of ^ Death to the traitors !" 
Nothing but the love of the people for Chlopicki 
and Schembeck, mho interceded^ could iiave htn* 
dered theoi from carrying their wishes into imme- 
diate execution. * Several excited individuals made 
their way toward the culprits with pistols m their 
hands, and, after aiming at them, fired their weap- 
ons into the ain crying, " You are unworthy of a 
shot from a Polish hand. Live — to be everlast^ 
ingly tortured by yoOr consciences !" The unfor- 
tunate men entreated that they might be penmitted 
to serve in the ranks, as private§. They were 
immediately deprived of their commissions, and 
from that time they lived in retirement during the 
war.* 



* These Polish regiments and generals are, doubtless, the same 
who were reported by the Berlin State Gazette to have been 
butchered. So far fhnn that, the nation received them kindly, 
and forgave them. Prussians ! you know little of the Poles, or of 
their feelings. The time may come when we shall know one 
another better. 



THE POLISH IUCV0LUTI09. 66 

• 

The people were this day infonned that priace 
Adam CBartoriski had been DomiMled president 
of the national government ; that the eighteenth 
of December was appointed for the opening oi the 
Diet ; that till that day the rights of the Emperor 
Nicholas would be acknowledged ; and that Lu- 
i>ecki, Osi^owski, and Jezierski would be sent to 
St. Petersburgb, at a .deputation^ to inform the 
emperor of all that had happened. They were 
also to lay before him the following demands ; 

Ist« That all Russian troops should be with- 
drawn from the kingdom forever, that a perpetual 
conflict between the two nations might be avoided. 

2aA. That the privileges of the constitution 
should be again confirmed in their fullest extent* 

Srd. That all the ancient Polish provinces in* 
corporated with Rusa^i shonld partake in the pri* 
vileges of -the constitution, as Alexander had pro- 
mised. 

Th^ deputies were also instructed to entreat the 
enfpeKnr to come to War»iw and open the Diet, in 
t>rder to satisfy himself respecting the actual state 
of affairs. 

The deputies left Warsaw that very evening. 

The commander in chief appointed general Sie- 
rawski governor of the city of Warsaw, and colonel 
count Wonsowicz chief of the staff. These officers 
were both beloved by the people, and proved them- 
selves able and zealous defenders of their countTy 
through the whole campaign. The commander in 
chief also published an order, that the army should 



66 THE POLISH BEVOLUTION. 

m 

consist of 200,000 men. Each wayewodeshxp 
(principality) was to furnish 9,000 infantry, and 
11,000 horse. There are eight wayewodeships in 
Poland. The army already existing, the volunteer 
forces, and the regiments raised and equipped by 
some of the noblemen, were n«t reckoned in this 
estimate, nor did it include the volunteers which 
were to be ejtpected from the Polish provroces 
under other foreign governments; 

The fourth, fifth, and sixth of December were 
remarkable days in the history of our revolution. 
Soldiers and peasants flocked In from all sides — 
from all quarters of the country. In a dhort time, 
more than fiv# thousand peasants, -armed with 
scythes, axes, and other weapons, \*iere covnted. 
Among them were more than two hundred peasant 
girls, with sickles. These «vere days of jeal joy, 
when all united in the defence of Poland, without 
distinction of rank, age, or even sex — when rich 
and poor, nobles and peasants, met, 9s friends 
escaped from common sufferings, and embraced. 
Tables were spread with refreshments for those 
who arrived, in the streets. The fourth was re- 
markable for the opening of the theatre.* Reli- 



* This was the first time the theatre was opened during the 
revolution. A patriotic piece was performed, viz. " The Krako- 
vians and Guralians," or "The Union of the Tw« Tribes." This 
play had been prohibited before. As early as six, P. M. the thea- 
tre was crowded. No distinction was observed in regard to places. 
Before the play began, one of the patriots addressed the audience 
with a speech, in which he called to memory all the outrages by 
which the revolution h|ul been rendered necessary, and informed 



THE POLISH REVOCDTION. 67 

gious solemnities took place id Praga on the fifth, 
and on the sixth a Dictator was nominated.* 

When, on the sixth of December, the national 
government notified Chlopicki of his nomination as 



them what measures the National Assembly had taken to insure 
the success of the good cause. *' Poles! Brethren I" he said, " we 
have sent deputies to the Cmperor^ to represent our sufferings for 
fifteen years— our oppressions — wbioh 4rew neither attention nor 
relief from Russia, while our rights were trampM upon, and our 
innocent brethren tortured. Perhaps the Emperor, surrounded by 
bad men, has been kept in ignorance of our wrongt, and will be 
astonished to hear of all this injustice from the months of our 
deputies. Perhaps he will ta)Le measures to redress all these villa- 
nies without delay. If the grace of God has granted him to reign 
over Poland, he may follow the steps of our good kings of old ; of 
whom no one ever tcmished the throne with 'tyranny. As for us, 
brethren^ let us forget past dissensiohs, and unitedly and patiently 
strive with one accord for the l eia m ption of our country." After 
this speech, which was joyfully received, the orchestra played 
Kosciusko's march, which had not been heard for fifteen years. 
At first, the musl9 was dro¥^ed in the shouts of the audience — 
'• Hail, our country,— our father Kosciusko ! France, and Lafay- 
ette the friend of Kosciusko, forever t" After this, the Marseilles 
hymn was played, and then the Mazur of Dombrowski. The play 
was ful^of x>&triotic songs, and the audience joined their voices to 
those of the actors. But when, at the end of the play, three stand- 
ards, with the armorial bearings of the ancient provinces of Poland, 
were brought hi, and' were folded into one in the embraces of the 
actors who represented the three chief tribes, the exultation of the 
audience surpassed aU bounds. ' Oae of the favorite actors addres- 
sed the spectators in these word*—" The monster tyranny, terri- 
fied by the sudden light of liberty, which he could not endure, has 
left the den from which he has hitherto spread death and afiright. 
Oh thatj scared by this light, he may be driven farther jmd farther, 
nor be suffered to rest on any of the fields of Poland.- May he re- 



^ On Sunday, the fifth of December, prayers were offered up in 
all the churches of Warsaw by the people from the provinces as 



68 THE PgiLISH REVOLUTICm. 

generalissimo, -he repliedi that they had jik> power 
to place him in that sfatioii ; ihat ia such critical 

tire to the dark, icy regions of the north, whente he came, and God 
grant that he may never return to tts." 

After this, those of the patriots who had been most actively dia- 
tinguished on the first night1>f the revolution and aftef , and thoae 
who had suffered in dungeons for thetr loye of country, were 
presemied to the assemblage. They were received with infinite 
joy, and carried about on the shoulders of the people with shouts. 
Many ladies were then brought forward, who had followed the 
patriots in arms on the first night, or had sacrificed their wealth 
on the altar of patriotism. At first sight, these beautiful and 
noble beings might have been taken for angels sent down for the 
redemption of unhappy Poland. 

These scenes surpass description — they can only be felt bjr 
hearts truly free. These were moments to jmite the whole nation. 
Persons who had slvmned each other for years, each fearing a spy 
in the other, explained themselves and embraced. These scenes 
will live eternally in the memory of every Pole. Bqholdlng his 
countrymen in this ecstacy of joy, there was none who did net weep 
' — ^none who did not feel ready to die on the jnorrow, having seen 
them thus happy. The prisoner condemned to death, wli^n unex- 
pectedly rescued, and permitted to breathe th^ free air, laughs, 
weeps, endeavors to express his gratitude, and cannot. Such was 
the feeling of Poland in these blessed moments. 



well as the inhabitants. The blessing of the Most High was im- 
plored on our arms. Of all the religious solemnities, those pf 
Praga were the most edifying ahd affecting. A mass was said in 
the open air, at an altar erected on the spot where the victims of 
Suwarrow had been buried. This altar was surrounded by more 
than 50,000 men, who sent up one voiee to God. The twelve 
academical legions formed the innermost circle, among whom 
those whb had been imprisoned for assisting on a similar oocasion 
were conspicuous. In the intervals of divine service, and after 
its termination, several speeches were delivered, one of which was 
by one of the liberated prisoners. Recalling the cruelties perpe- 
trated by Suwarrow, as well as those which we had lately suffered, 
he observed, *^ Brethren, we were lately forbidden-r^ay, it was 
accounted a crime, to pray for our unfortunate murdered ances- 



THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 69 

times the cml and military power ought to be 
vested ia one person, and that he felt himself 



tors. To-day 4 under this free vault of heaven, on the grave of our 
fcuhera^ on the soil meisteoed with their saored blood, which criei 
to us for retribution, in the presence of their spirits hovering over 
ujB, we swear never to lay down our arms till we shall have avenged, 
or fallen like them.^' The assembled multitude then sung a patri- 
otic hynm. 

The sixth of December was remarkable for the nomination of 
Chlopicki to Che dtctatorsbip ; — the union of the supreme civil and 
military powers in b'lB person. The authority of the provisional 
government was thus at an end 3 every thing was referred to the 
Dictator. In the aAemoon, more than 100,000 persons assembled 
in the Champ de Mars and the space around it. The greater part 
of the army, too, were present. Chlopicki came with the sena- 
tors, and was received by those who had entnisted him with their 
defence with shouts of joy. His aspect was, indeed, venerable. 
His silver head, grown white in the service of Poland, bespoke the 
con&ience of all. 

The people were informed by one of the senators that all the ' 
powers of government had been delegated to Chlopicki, in order 
that operations might be conducted with greater energy and des- 
patch ; yet with this restriction — that hitf authority should cease 
on the eighteenth of December. This, it will be remembered, was 
the day toed for the opening of the diet, to which body all further 
dispositions were referred. The proclamation made, Chlopicki 
himself addressed the people thus: « Poles! brethren! The cir- 
cumstances in which our country is placed demand strict unity of 
purpose, and therefore I have thought it best to accept the supreme 
power. But this is only for a time. I shall resign it on the meet- 
ing of the diet. Rely on my experience, which is the fruit of long 
service, and on my age, which has taught me the knowledge of 
mankind. Be assured that no selfish feeling has impelled me to 
this step, and that I have consented to take it only to promote the 
welfare of Poland. The truth of this I call God to witness. — May 
he assist me to make my promises good. Hail to our dear coun- 
try !" The last sentence was clamorously echoed by the people, 
with the addition of, *' and its brave defender Chlopicki !" Many 
in the assembly exclaimed, ** Lead us to Lithuania, Chlopicki !" 



70 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 

entitled, by his long services, to nominate himself 
Dictator. His powers, he said, he would lay 
down on the assemblage of the Diet. In the after- 
noon of the next day he was proclaimed Dictator 
in the Champ de Mars, amidst the acclamations 
of an immense multitude. After this, he took a 
public oath to act in accordance with the spirit of 
the people, and to defend the rights and privileges 
of Poland. 






CHAPTER V. 

The Dictator enten npon bis datieiw — PUns for the eDroUmeot of new forc«t.* 
System of officering them. — Want of energy in the execution of hia pltni. — 
Vortificationt neglected.— The people sopply the deficienclee of the edmiak- 
tration. — Biacovery of the corre«pond<ince between the miniatert Grabowaki 
and Lubecki. — ^The march of the array delayed. — Answer of the Emperor 
Nicholas to the deputies.— His proekmatf on^— Ita eflbct on the nation. — ^Tbe 
Diet demand of the Dictator an account of his trust — The result of their inves- 
tigations. — Chlopicki deprired of the Dictatorial power. — ^The civil adminis- 
tration entrusted to Prince Adam Cxartoriski, and the cenunand of the Army 
to Prince Michael RadsiTiJ, each subordinate to the Diet. 

On the seventh of December, the new Dictator 
took possession of the residence which had been 
prepared for him. A guard of honor was assigned 
him, consisting of a company of the Academical 
Legion. The twelve companies of which this le- 
gion was composed mounted guard in succession. 

The nation had conceived the highest hopes of 
Chlopicki ; they expected, above all, the most en- 
ergetic measures in regard to the armament and 
organization of the forces. These hopes were not 
fulfilled. At the very commencement of his ad- 
ministration, it began to be seen that this man, 
either from his advanced age or the original inad- 
equacy of his talents to the demands of such a situ- 
ation, would fail to satisfy the wants of the nation. 
Indeed, the union of so many different duties in 
the hands of one individual demanded abilities of 
no ordinary strength and compass. As might have 
been expected, the evident incapacity of Chlopicki 
early became the occasion of dissension in the 



"^ 



72 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 

patriotic association already referred to, accusa- 
tions being preferred, as a matter of course, against 
those who had been active in procuring his invest- 
ment with such high powers. The succeeding 
events will enable the reader to decide for himself 
of the justice of such accusations. 

On assuming his post, the Dictator adopted the 
following arranjgements in regard to the enroll- 
ments of the new forces, and other objects of mili- 
tary administration. He estimated the army al- 
ready in existence at 25,000 men, and sixty-two 
pieces of cannon. This army was constituted as 
follows : — The infantry was composed of nine 
regiments, of two battalions each, and a battalion 
of sappers, making a total of 19,000 men. The 
cavalry was also composed of nine regiments, each 
regiment consisting pf four squadrons, 7,200 men 
in all. The artillery was divided into nine battal- 
ions, of eight pieces each, in all seventy-two 
pieces, exclusive of the artillery in the fortresses 
of Modlin and Zamosc. 

This force the Dictator proposed to augment in 
the following manner: — Each existing regiment 
was to receive a third battalion ; and he intended 
to form fifteen new regiments, of three battalions 
each. This would have increased the total of in- 
fantry to 64,000 men, without taking into the 
account the National Guard of Warsaw and the 
other cities, amounting to 10,000 men. The 
cavalry was to be augmented by 8,000, making a 
total of 16,200. To the artillery were to be added 



THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 73 

twenty-four pieces of cannon, making a total of 
ninety-six pieces. 

In this estimate the Dictator did not include 
the aid that might be calculated upon from the 
provinces of Prussian, Austrian, and Russian Po- 
land, the volunteers of every kind, and the regi- 
ments raised and equipped by the large landed 
proprietors. 

For each of the eight palatinates into which the 
kingdom was divided, an officer was appointed, 
whose duty it was to superintend the organization 
of the military forces, of which from seven to eight 
thousand infantry, and one thousand cavalry, were 
to be furnished by each palatinate. These officers 
were subordinate to two others, who had the super- 
vision of four palatinates each, and bore the title of 
Regimentarz. These last had the power of ap- 
pointing all the officers of the new forces.* 



^ Avery important circamstaDce, which either escaped the notice 
of the Dictator, or waa wilfVilly neglected by him, respected the 
nomipation and rank of officers. As the army was to be consid- 
erably augmented, a proportionably greater number of officers was 
requisite. AH arrangements upon this subject were confided to 
the Regimentarz, with whom the important power of making these 
appointments was entirely left. This course soon led to trouble. 
The Regimentarz, not having the power to transfer the older 
officers of the existing army, excepting in cases where the offi^r 
was made by those officers, were compelled to appoint new officers 
to newly formed regiments. These newly levied soldiers were 
thus placed under officers who were but learners themselves. The 
evil effects of this injudicious system were indeed sensibly felt in 
the first actions of the campaign. Besides the evil here alluded to, 
a degree of jealousy between the old and new officers resulted from 
the operation of these arrangements. It was natural for those 



74 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 

The augmentation of the armj was to have 
been completed by the twentieth of January, 183 J. 
But all these arrangements were made on paper 
only — the government did not press their execu- 
tion. In fact, such a degree of negligence listed, 
that in some places where the people assembled to 
be enroll ed, they found no officers to receive them, 



who were old in service to see with dissatisfaction recently com- 
missioned officers placed above them io rank. Instead, then, of 
studying to preserve the utmost harmony between those who were 
going forth together to shed their blood in the cause of their com- 
mon country, that course was in fact taken, which if it had been 
designed to disturb this harmony, would have been deemed the 
most efficacious. 

Arrangements for officering the army might have been made 
in such a manner as the following, to the satisfaction of all par- 
ties. After dividing the officers into three classes, the first, con- 
sisting of those actually in service, the second of those who had 
been in service, but had given up their commissions and were in 
retirement, and the third, of the newly commissioned officers 3 a 
military commission might have been formed, who should have 
before them lists of officers showing their periods of service. This 
commission could have designated the rank of each upon an 
examination of these lists, placing the retired officers in the grades 
in which they stood at the time of their retirement. The new 
regiments should have been officered from the two first classes, 
advancement being made in the grade of each officer. Tiie third 
class, or the new officers, should have been appointed to the vacan- 
cies thus left in the old regiments. Besides the justice which 
such an arrangement would hav« done to the officers of older 
standing, it would have had this good effect: the experienced offi- 
cers would have been more widely distributed through the army, 
and the new regiments would have advanced more rapidly in 
organization and discipline. General Skrzynecki clearly saw the 
defects of the actual arrangement ; but once made, it was difficult 
to reform it. He took, however, every opportunity that offered, 
to transfer the older officers to advanced grades in the new regi- 
ments. 



THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 75 

and, after waiting some time, they returned to 
their homes. It was, in truth, only by the energy 
of the nation, which supplied the deficiencies of 
the administration, that our forces were erer in 
any degree augmented. The volunteer force was 
in an especial manner liberally furnished by the 
people. A similar state of things existed with 
regard to the fortifications ; and here again the 
energy of the people atoned for the negligence of 
the administration. This was especially the case 
at Warsaw and Praga, where all the citizens la- 
bored on the works of defence, without distinction 
of age or sex. 

The. construction of barricades in the different 
streets of Warsaw, and of mines in several parts 
of the city, was commenced by the citizens. The 
Dictator, however, instead of occupying his atten- 
tion with these warlike preparations, devoted it 
to diplomatic negociations, and despatched emis- 
saries to the neighbouring courts, charged with 
propositions made without the knowledge or the 
wish of the nation, and even, in some cases, incom- 
patible with its honor, and inconsistent with the 
design of the revolution. All the measures, in- 
deed, of the Dictator, however ,well intended they 
might have been, indicated much weakness and 
indecision. 

Such was the state of affairs when an event 
occurred that seemed to augur well for our pros- 
pects. This was the discovery of the correspon- 
dence between the ministers Grabowski and Lu- 



76 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 

becki, the former being . Secretary of State for 
Poland and a member of the cabinet at St. Peters- 
burgh, the latter Minister of Finance of Warsaw. 
This correspondence afforded the clearest evidence 
that Russia had intended to declare war against 
France, and that she was prepared to commence 
that waf in December following.* 

* Letter to Prince Ltibeeki, Minister of Finance at Warsaw, 
dated St, Petersburgh, the ISth of August, 1880. « My Prince,— 
His Majesty the Emperor and King directs me to inform you that 
the Polish troops being now in marching condition, you are re- 
quested to provide the necessary funds, without delay, upon which 
the public treasury may count as occasion may require, to support 
the expenses of the movement of the army, and of the approaching 



campaign." 



>9 



(Signed) " Turkul, Secretary of State.' 

In an answer to this letter, dated the third of September, Prince 
Lubecki renders an account of the means at his conmiand. " Po- 
land," he says, " has 8,000,000 gilders in its treasury, and 1,000,000 
in the bank of Berlin* She is then ready to undertake the neces- 
sary preparations." 

Extract of a letter addressed to Prince Lubecki by Count Chra- 
bowski, Secretary of State for PoUmd, at St. Petersbwgk. " The 
official correspondence which, by the order of his Majesty, I have 
the honor to communicate to you, my Prince, and which directs 
the placing of the Polish army on the war establishment, was, un- 
doubtedly, even more unwelcome to you than to myself. I suffer, 
truly, in aeeing the progress of our financial arrangements thus 
arrested. Our treasury would have been in the most perfect con- 
dition, but for the expen^ses of this war, which will absolutely 
exhaust its coffers ; for on this occasion our geographical position 
places us in the front line." * 

<< Dated St. Petersburgh, 15th October, 1830. 

(Signed) " Grabowski." 

From the same to the same. Dated October IStk, 18d0. 

'< Having been this day informed by his excellency, the aid-de- 
camp of his majesty, Czemiszew, that orders have been given to 



THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 77 

These letters were sent to Paris in the early 
part of December, bj an express, and ought to 



hiB royal highness the Ceesarowicz, to place on the war establisb- 
ment all the troops under his command^ without excepting those of 
the Polish kingdom, and that these orders are to be carried into 
effect by the S3d of December, I haTe the honor, my Prince, to' 
communicate this information to you, by his Majesty's order, so 
that the necessary funds may be furnished without delay to the 
Minister of War. And I further request you, my Prince, by the 
order of his Majesty, to hare the goodness to assign to his imporial 
highness the Ceesarowicz all the fuiuii ier trhich he may have 
occasion in the ezeetttion offua orders. 

(Signed) " GmjiBOwtKi.'' 

From the samk to thx same. DaUd 9fHh NovemJber, 18S0. 

" The return of Marshal Diebitsch will determine what meas- 
ures it will be necessary to take. He has received orders to pus 
through Warsaw, on his return from Berlin, with the view to con- 
sult with the Grand Duke Constantino, in an especial manner upon 
subjects connected with the movement and subsistence of the army. 
The Emperor wishes that you would see the Marshal, as soon as 
possible afler his arrival in Warsaw, in order to consult with him 
on all these subjects ; and he authorizes you to execute all the 
arrangements which may be determined upon by Marshal Diebitsch 
and the Grand Duke, without waiting for furthec orders fh>m his 
Majesty. You will conform strictly to the wishes of his imperial 
Highness. His Majesty, in conclusion, orders me to invite you to 
repair to St. Petersburgh as soon as the army shall have com- 
menced its movement and the war shall have been declared, so 
that you may receive in person the orders of his Majesty. We 
are now in the month of November, the distances are great, our 
armies cannot be ready before the spring, and events follow each 
other so rapidly that God only knows what may happen before 
that time. The rapidity of their succession has made it impossi- 
ble to receive intelligence of events in season to influence their 
course. It is this which has caused the unfortunate state of afiairs 
in regard to Belgium. And here, again, is opened a train of events, 
in reference to which it is useless to act, for the next courier may 
bring us intelligence of an entirely new state of things." 

10 



^ 78 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 

have convinced the French government of the hos-* 
tile intentions of Russia. They should have satis- 
fied France that our revolution, and the war that 
was to follow, were a part of the great struggle in 
which her own existence was concerned. 

The existing army was, through the activity of 
the general officers, brought into such a state, by 
the middle of December, that it could then have 
taken the field against the enemy. The soldiers 
were eager for the struggle, but the delay of their 
march gave color to the supposition that an answer 
from the Emperor was waited for. It was even 
rumored that the Emperor was coming to Warsaw 
in person. All this tended to damp the excite- 
ment of the moment. What, then, was the aston- 
ishment of the nation, when it was found that the 
monarch, far from admitting the severity of the 
oppression under which we had suffered fifteen 
years, — far from giving a paternal audience to the 
deputies which the nation had sent to him, and 
who, in its name, had presented the most moderate 
demands, (limited, in fact, to the ratification and 
observance of the constitution granted to us, and 
the union of the Polish provinces under one gov- 
ernment, as had been promised by Alexander,) — 
far from consenting to repair to Warsaw, as the 
deputies had entreated him to do, as a father among 
his children, to hear their complaints and satisfy 
himself as to their justice, — far from all this, — in 
a word, discarding all paternal feelings, he applied 
the term "infamous" to the sacred effort we had 



THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 79 

been forced to make by the oppression under 
which we had so long snfiered.* 



* The proclamations of the Emperor on the 17tb and 34tii oC 
December were in effect the same. There was a perfect corres- 
pondence between them in severity of langnage and spirit. We 
mriU give the last. 

«< By the grace of God, we, Nicholas the First, Emperor and 
Autocrat of all the Russias, make known to all our faithful sub- 
jects that an infamous treason has convulsed the kingdom of Po- 
land, which 18 united to Russia. Evil-minded men, who had not 
been Saarwed of their bad passions by the beneficence of the im- 
mortal Emperor Alexander, the generous restorer of their country, 
under the protection of the laws he had given them, have secretly 
concerted plbts for the subversion of the established order of things, 
and began to execute their projects on the S9tfa of November last, 
by rebellion, effusion of blood, and attempts against the life of our 
well beloved brother the Ceesarowicz Grand Duke Constantino 
Paulowiez. Profiting by the obscurity of the night, a Airious pop- 
ulace, excited by these men, precipitated themselves upon the 
palace of the CoBsarowicz ; while, spreading throughout the city 
of Warsaw the false report that the Russian troops were massa- 
crmng the peaceable inhabitants, they collected the people about 
them and filled the city with all the horrors of anarchy. The 
Ceesarowicz, with the Russians who were about his person, and 
the Polish troops who remained faithful to their duty, determined 
to take a position in the vicinity of Warsaw, and not to act with 
hostility, in order that, avoiding all occasion of shedding blood, 
they might prove in the clearest manner the falsehood of the report 
which had been circulated, and give the authorities of the city time 
and means of bringing back to their duty, in concert with the well- 
intentioned citizens, those who had been misled, and to restrain 
the discontented. This hope was not fulfilled. The council of 
the city were unable to re-establish order. Incessantly menaced 
by rebeb, who had formed some illegal union among themselves, 
and had gained an influence in the council by separating from it 
some members named by us, and filling their places with others 
named by the chiefs of the conspirators, there was no course left 
to it but to beseech the Ccsarowicz to send back the Polish troops 
who had left Warsaw with him, to protect the public and private 



80 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 

The Russian generals Benkendorf and Diebitsch, 
in a conversation, of which our revolution was the 

property from new pillage. Soon after this council was entirely 
dissolved, and all its powers were united in the hand of one gen- 
eral. In the interval, the news of the revolt was spread through 
all the provinces of Poland. Everywhere the same means were 
employed. Imposture, menaces, fabehood were used to inveigle 
the pacific inhabitants into the power of the rebels. In this unfor- 
tunate and serious state of things, the Csesarowicz considered it 
indispensable to yield to the request of the government. He per- 
mitted the small body of Polish troops which remained faithful to 
him to return to Warsaw, in order to insure as far as possible the 
security of persons and property. He himself quitted the kingdom 
with the Russian troops, and entered on the ISth December the 
town of Wlodawa, in the government of Volhynia. 

" Thus was executed a crime which had been resolved upon, 
probably, for a long time before. After so many misfortunes, and 
when at last in the enjoyment of peace and prosperity under the 
protection of our power, the people of the kingdom of Poland 
have plunged themselves again into the abyss of revolt and misery, 
and multitudes of credulous men, though already trembling in fear 
of the chastisement which awaits them, dare to think, for a mo- 
ment, of victory ; and propose to us the condition of being placed 
on an equality with ourselves ! Russians, you know that we reject 
them with indignation! Your hearts bum with zeal for the 
throne. Already you appreciate the sentiments we feel. At the 
first intelligence of the treason, your response was a new oath of 
unshaken fidelity, and at this moment we see but one movement 
in the whole extent of our vast empire. But one sentiment ani- 
mates all hearts ; the desire to spare nothing, to sacrifice all, even 
life itself, for the honor of the Emperor and the integrity of the 
empire. We witness with deep emotion the strong manifestation 
of the love of the people for ourselves and for their country. We 
might, indeed, answer -you with tranquillity, that new sacrifices 
and new efiforts will not be necessary. God, the protector of 
right, is with us, and all-powerful Russia will be able, with a de- 
cisive blow, to bring to order those who have dared to disturb her 
tranquillity. Our faithful troops, who have so recently distin- 
guished themselves by new victories, are already concentrating 
upon the western frontier of the empire. We are in readiness to 



THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 81 

subject, and which took place in an intenriew with 
colonel Wielezjnsfci, who was. one of the deputies 
sent to the emperor, spoke of a general war as im* 



punish the perjured; but we wish to distinguish the innocent from 
the guilty, and to pardon the weak, who, firom inconsiderateness 
or fear have followed the current. All the subjects of our king- 
dom of Poland, all the inhabitants of Warsaw, have not taken part 
in the conspiracy and its melancholy consequences. Many have 
proved, by a glorious death, that they knew their duty. Others, 
as we learn by the report of the Grand Duke, hare been forced, 
with tears of despair, to return to the places occupied by tba 
rebels. These last, together with the misguided, compose, no 
doubt, a great part of the army and of the inhabitants of the king- 
dom of Poland. We have addressed ourselves to them by a pro- 
clamation on the 17th of this month, in which, manifesting our just 
indignation against the perjured men who have commenced this 
rebellion, we gave orders to put an end to all illegal armaments, 
and to restore every thing to its former footing. They have yet 
time, then, to repair the fault of their compatriots, and to save 
the Polish kingdom from the pernicious consequences of a blind 
criminality. In pointing out the only means of safety, we make 
known this manifestation of our benevolence toward our faithful 
subjects. They will see in it our wish to protect the inviolability 
of the throne and of the country, as well as the firm resolution 
to spare misguided and penitent men. Russians ! the example 
of your emperor wiD guide you, the example of justice without 
vengeance, of peraeverance in the combat for the honor and pros- 
peri^ of the empire, without hatred of adversaries, of love and 
regard for the subjects of our kingdom of Poland who have re- 
mained faithful to the oath they have made to us, and of an earn- 
est desire for reconciliation with all those who shall return to their 
duty. You will fulfil our hopes, as you have hitherto done. Re- 
main in peace and quietness ; full of confidence in God, the con- 
stant benefactor of Russia, and in a monarch who appreciates the 
magnitude and the sacredness of his duties, and who knows how 
to keep inviolable the dignity of his empire, and the honor of the 
Russian people. 

" Given at St. Petersburgh the twenty-fourth of the month of 
December, 1830. (Signfcd) " Nicholas." 



82 THE POLISH REVOLUTIOIf. 

pending after Poland should be crushed.* Colonel 
Wielezynski returned from St. Petersburgh in the 
latter part of December, bringing with him the 
proclamation which has already been given to the 
reader, and which, being published, was received 
by the people with the utmost indignation. It 
was an insult to the honor and character of the 
nation, which demanded vengeance. The day of 
the promulgation of this document was a day of 
terrible agitation. The cry of " To battle ! To 
battle !'' was heard in every quarter. The nation 
demanded to be led against the enemy at once. 
The word had gone forth ^^ there is no hope of 
peace."t It was with difficulty that the people 
could be restrained from rushing at once to the 



• The following is part of a conversation, in presence of the 
Emperor, between generals field marshal Diebitsch and Benk- 
endorf, and colonel Wielezynski, (one of the deputies sent by the 
Polish Dictator,) at the close of a short interview, which took 
place at a council on the affairs of state to which those generals 
had been called by the Emperor. 

" WeU, gentlemen of Poland," said marshal Diebitsch, "your 
revolution has not even the merit of being well timed. You have 
risen at the moment when the whole force of the empire was on 
the march toward your frontiers, to bring the revolutionary spirits 
of Prance and Belgium to order." 

When the colonel observed that Poland thought herself capable 
of arresting the torrent long enough to give Europe the alarm, 
and to prepare her for the struggle, marshal Diebitsch answered, 

" Well, what will you gain by the result ? We had calculated to 
make our campaign on the Rhine ; we shall now make it on the 
Elbe or the Oder^ having crushed you first. Consider this well." 

t According to the testimony of colonel Wielezynski, the pro- 
clamation of the Emperor was in entire contradiction to the send- 



tU£ POUSU ECVOLUTION. 89 

^eld and be persuaded to wait for a GonvocatioB of 
the Diet &xed on the 17th of January. This delay 
was another error, for the time which intervened 
was uselessly employed. This Diet in the opinion 
of the nation could decide upon nothing short of 
war. Upon a just interpretation of the spirit of 
the Emperor's proclamation, no other course could 
be taken consistently with the national honm. It 
was in consequence of this proclamation, of so 
criminatory, 30 unjust, so' insulting a character, 
that Nicholas Romanofi and his successors were 
declared to have forfeited all claims to the throne 
of Poland, and that that throne was declared va- 
cant. The Poles could no longer submit to a 
king, who, far from being willing to hear their 
complaints, far from guaxan tying the rights secured 
by the constitution, went the length of insulting 
that national honor to which all history has borne 
testimony. To what a future must Poland, under 
such a king, have looked forward. Better were 



meats he expressed in the conTeraation abore mentioned. The 
tone of that converaadon was anything but serere. He even con* 
ceded that the Poles had just reason to be discontented, and ad* 
mitted many of the barbarities of his brother, the Grand Duke 
Constantine. He promised colonel Wielezynski that he would 
act with the strictest justice, and would consider it a duty to in* * 
quire serupulously into, and carefully distinguish all the circum- 
stauces of the case, in regard to which a manifeau> should shordy 
be published. As he took leaye of the colonel, in presence of 
Diebitsch and Benkendorf, he declared that he loved and esteemed 
the Poles, and that these his feelings should be the basis of his 
course with regard to them. How inconsistent such language- 
with that of the proclamation ! 



84 THE POLISH REVOLUTIOM. 

it to risk the bloodiest conflict, naj, to be buried 
under the ruins of our country, than to remain the 
vile slaves of a man, who, relying on the force 
which he could control, was willing to take advan- 
tage of his strength to be unjust. 

The Diet demanded of general Chlopicki an 
account of his trust, in regard to the military and 
civil administration generally, and in a particular 
manner in regard to the preparation of the forces. 
The result of this inquiry was to satisfy them that 
there had been a general negligence of his duties, 
especially in regard to the increase and organiza- 
tion of the army. On examining the military 
reports, it was found that only the fifth part of the 
amount of force ordered to be levied, was as yet 
enrolled. Two months had been wasted. The 
Dictator, as has been already stated, occupied him- 
self principally with diplomatic affairs, and seemed 
to forget that the country was to be defended. The 
Diet saw that general Chlopicki was hoping to fin- 
ish the war by conferences, and that his eagerness 
for peape was betraying him into a forgetfulness 
of what was due to the national honor. In fine, a 
correspondence with the Emperor Nicholas was 
found to have been carried on by him.* 

* Some letters of the Emperor Nicholas were found among the 
papers of Chlopicki, in which the Emperor expressed his thanks 
to him for having taken the dictatorship, and for the service which 
he had done to him, by the preservation of public tranquillity. 
The Emperor exhorted him to follow '^ the conditions which had 
been prescribed to him.'' The conditions here referred to could 
not be found. 



THK POUSK RBTOLVTIOIf. 86 

The Dtetatar, it was seen, had been eqmlljr 
Begleetful of tbe different fortification. Except 
at the principal points, Praga, Zamosc, and Mod* 
lin» no works of defence had been constructed. 
The important places of Serock, aad 21e^z, the 
former on the Narew, and the latter below the 
coafloence of the Narew and tbe Bag, were for* 
gotten, as were all the positions on the great road 



Tbe reader wiH permit me te dwell, fbr a isomeiit, upon tlie 
oMde o^ eoBdiid, oa tke part of the Empeior Nichalas^ wliieJi m 
here indicated. 

What conditiona could Nicholaa propose to the Dictator, which 
the nation should not know of? If those een^tions were com- 
patiUe with jnstioe and with the honor of the nadon, why was 
all this secrecy necessary ? If they were incompatible with justice 
and our honor, the Dictator certainly could not have it in his 
power to make tbe nadkm accept of them. On the coatraiy, the 
oalion who had given hiai its cenSdeiCe, the motmuu thai it sheuW. 
have been convinced that the Dictator had intended to compromise 
its honor, would have despised him as a traitor, and he would 
have fhHen a sacrifice to its indignatioi]. T* wish to induce him, 
on his own responuhility, to commit acts contraiy to the httoor 
of the nation, is to be willing, for selfish ends, to induce him to 
do that which would render him infamous in history. 

Is this a count becoKung a king ? A eonduet se insincere, 
Machiavelian, and even malignaot, is based on the i^stem of in- 
trigue, and is in correspondence with the accustomed policy of the 
Russian cabinet, — a policy which has always brought divisions 
and misery upon the nations who have been under her power. 
Such a system, however, is far from being ultimately favorable to 
the interests of Russia herself, for it can never lead to a sure re- 
sult. Sooner or later duplicity will be discovered, and the more a 
nation has been deceived, the deeper will be its determination of 
vengeance. 

The letters referred to, which, I believe, are now in the hands 
of some of our countrymen, will be, in the eyes of the world, a 
new justification of our revolution. 

11 



86 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 

which leads from Warsaw to Broese, upon which, 
or in its vicinity, our principal opertions were to 
be executed* No point on the frontier was 
strengthened. The country was left entirely open. 
The Diet, considering all these circumstances, 
resolved to send a deputation to the Dictator, to 
demand of him, for the last time, what his inten- 
tions were, and to require of him to take the field 
forthwith. As the Dictator would not submit him- 
self to this expression of the will of the Diet, and 
even opened to prince Adam Czartoriski, who was 
one of that deputation, propositions deemed incon- 
sistent with the national honor, — the Diet deprived 
him of his trust. 

The affairs of the civil administration were con- 
fided, as before the dictatorship, to the senate, 
under the presidencey of prince Czartoriski, and 
the command in chief of the army was given to 
the prince Michael RadziviL All these powers 
were subordinate to the Diet. In this manner 
ended the dictatorship of Cblopicki, who after- 
wards took a place in the suite of prince Radzivil, 
and was admitted into the counsels of the admin- 
istration of military afiairs. 



CHAPTER VI. 

Remaiks on die ptdicy of the lata Dietator. — Sjttem of operatiou adopted.^ 
The army leavea Wanaw.— -Statement of the existing forcea.~-Of the forcee 
propoaed to be raiaed. — Unfortunate conaeqneneea of the d^aj in the prepa- 
ration of the forces — Statement of the force with which the war waa aetaally 
commenoed. 

The dictatorship bad exercised a most unpropi- 
tious influence upoD our affairs.* Every move- 

* The ctictatonhip may be faid to haVe been the first of oar 
miafortones. The dictator, acting in contradiction to the apirit of 
the revohition, (fid not take adyantage of thaFenthuaiaam with 
which the rerolutimi commenced, and hj which prodigies mighl 
hare been achiered. But not onlj did lie neglect to make use of 
that enthusiasm, or to foster it, he even took measures which had 
a tendency to repress it. The first fault with which he was re> 
preached by the Patriotic Club, was his having given pemiisBimi 
to the Ghrand Duke to leave the kingdom with his corps, taking 
with them their arms and accoutrements, which were really Polish 
property. The retaining of Uie Grand Duke would have been of 
the greatest importance to us. No historian could have blamed 
such an act \ for if the justice of our revolution be once acknow- 
ledged, every energetic and decisive act which would favor its 
happy result must also be justified in the view of history. The 
Russians indeed have regarded our conduct on this point as an 
indication-of weakness and timidity rather than as an act of deli- 
cacy and magnanimity, in which light Chlopicki intended that it 
should be considered. That same corps, attached to the Grand 
Duke, consisting, as we have said, of 7,000 men and 34 cannon, 
vrith the Grand Duke himself, did not r^ard it in this light, for 
they fought against us in the very first battle. Another fault of 
general Chlopicki was, not to have taken immediately the ofien- 
[^^§9 passed the Bug, and entered the brother provinces which had 
been incorporated with Russia. The Russian troops, especially 
those in Lithuania, were not in a state to resist the first impetu- 
osity of our national forces. The Russian soldiers, as the reader 



88 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 

meat had been retarded, and the most iavaluable 
time was lost. Instead of offessivs operatioas, 



probably knows, are not, ezcet>t It tbe Ifti^e citiea, ix>nc«iitrRt«it 
in barracka, as in other states of Earope, but are dispereed in 
quarlera througbout tbe country, io small bodies ; go that some- 
times a single re^meat may be spread to a circumference which 
may embrace eighty to a hundred villages, with perhapa fnxa ten 
to thirty soldiers only, in each, tn fact, the soldiers of a company 
may have aftea from mz to twelve miles march to reacb the qaar- 
ters of tfa«r captain. All this made the coi>centrBtion of theae 
forces an affair of time and difficulty ; and one regiment after 
another conld hare boen faUen npon, and their whola forces annt^ 
hiUted in detail, and that without much ef!uslon of Uood, Beuiea 
this, the Russian ci^ps of Lkhnanis was composed, in psrt, of 
our brethren Mvcdled in that pronnce, and eren commmded, in 
part, by officers natjvsa «f tbu proriiice. They would of course 
hare united themselves with us, &nd the revolution would hare 
qiread, with Uie rapidity oC ligbming, to the very borders of tbe 
Dwina and the Daisper ; and ai\er this, not four mUlions alone, 
b«it Bi3:taeii milUana o£ Poles would hare been united in one cause. 
At a later period, aU this was no longer possible. Russia began 
to beoome siire to tbe danger of the occnreence of such a stale of 
things, and all the regiments with Polish soldiers in their ranks 
were withdrawn into the interior, apd three hundred Polish offi- 
c«tB in tbe Russian service were sent tO' take commands in regi- 
flients posted in the regions about the Caucasus, in Asia, 

The Dictator, who gave as a reason for not having taken the 
shore course, that the neighboring cabinets would have taken 
nmbrsge at it as a violation of a foreign territory, can with diffi< 
cultf be conceived to hare really fell that this would hare bees 
. the case. Even if such apprehensions were well founded, are 
diplomatic formalities to be regarded, on an occanon like this ? 
Should we, in such a cause, forbear, from apprehensions of this 
kind, to press on to the delirery of our brethren from the despo- 
tism under which they were suffering i But, in fact, the true 
interests of those cabinets ware to be found in, what ereiy saga- 
cious observer of European bismry has pointed out as the great 
safeguard of Enrope, the establishment of tbe Polish kingdom as 
axrier against the threatening preponderance of our barbarous 



TSC POLISH REVOLUTION* 89 

tbe defemn^e wws now necessarilj taken. We 
awaited tbe enemy on our native soil, and exposed 
that soil to kis inralts and outrages. Even, how- 
ever, at this point, the patriots called on the gov- 
ernment to take the offensive, but it was loo late. 
An immense Russian array was concentrated upon 
eur frontiers, and was ready to pass them. Our 
forces were not strong enough to defend every 
fioint against the enemy's entrance, tt was decid- 
ed to keep our tmops concentrated, and present- 
ing Co him always a sarrew and recurvated front, 
lo lead the enemy to the environs of Warsaw, and 
to give him a decisive battle there. On aboat the 
20th of January, the Prince Radzivil renewed the 
orders for the most rapid organization of all the 

enemj. It was indeed ndicnloiM to require of the Poles tkat they 
should regard, as nieir onAy Inniti, the little kingdom into which 
tbe Tioleiice and firand of tbe eoHdbiiied aoyereigiMi had contracted 
-them. The Poles, in entering those prorinces, would have been 
still on the -soil of tbehr ancient oonntry ; and, in faet, the rerolo- 
tiofi was equally instiftable at Wilna, Kiow, and Smolensk, as at 
Warsaw. The patriots, indeed, who began the latter, did not 
tkiok of their own BuSsringB alone, they bore in mind also 4he even 
greater snl^rings of their brethren who were more absohrtely in 
the power o£ despotisai. It was indeed the great end of the patri- 
ots and of the nation, the union of all, the provinces of ancient Po- 
land, which was abandoned by the Dictator. Nothing else, in 
fiMst, but the forcing of the frontiers, would have subdued the arro- 
gaaee <^ the Emperar, and forced him to listen to onr daims. 
The nnanimous voice of sixteen millions of Poles could not have 
safely beoi dei^ised. This compulsory am^oration of our con* 
dition would have also spared Nicholas the remorse with which 
he must reflect on the sacrifice of nearly 300,000 fives, and the 
death or suffering to which he has condemned, and is stHl con- 
deaming, the best spirits of Poland. 



90 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 

different corps, and directed those corps which 
were already organized td hold themselves in readi- 
ness for marching. A division of lancers which 
was in the environs of Siedlce, augmented by some 
regiments of newly raised light cavalry, occupied, 
as a corps of observation, all the country between 
Wlodawa and Ciechanowiec, and were ordered to 
watch every movement of the enemy in that re-' 
gion. On about the 25th of January, the troops 
began to leave Warsaw and the other towns of the 
department, and to concentrate themselves upon 
a line embracing the towns of Siedlce, Ostrolenka, 
and Lukow.* 



* I cannot forbear to dwell for a moment upon the occasion of 
the departure of our troops from Warsaw and the other towns. 
It was one of the fine and touching moments of our reyolution. 
Everj friend of liberty would have desired to have brought together 
all the autocrats of the world to witness the animation with which 
our national troops went forth to engage in the combat for liberty. 
Perhaps they would have been involuntarily struck with the con- 
viction that this liberty must be a blessing when men will sacrifice 
themselves so cheerfully to achieve it. When the march was 
commenced^ all the inhabitants of the neighboring country left 
their homes to witness the departure, and all the plains about 
Warsaw and the road sides between Warsaw and Siedlce were 
cover^ with people. The soldiers, in marching through the 
streets of the city, passed between lines of people composed of 
senators, ofGicers of the government, the clergy, children from the 
schools, the members of the national guard, and in short an im- 
mense assembly of both sexes, reaching even to two miles beyond 
Praga. All the regiments passed in review before the general in 
chief, and each regiment took the oath to defend their country to 
the last drop of their blood. Exclamations such as these were 
constantly uttered: <^ Dear general, if you see us turn from before 
the enemy, point the artillery against us, and annihilate our ranks." 
The fourth regiment, the bravest of the brave, knowing that our 



TKIC P0M8H RETOLUTION« 91 



■TATXMKKT OF THB BZIStllTO .UUfT, AND OF VHft HBW WORCMB 

FEOFOfSD TO BK UIVIBD. 

The whole Polish force under the Russian gov- 
ernment, consisted 9 of Infantry , nine regiments of 
two battalions each, 19,000 men, and a battalion of 
sappers of 1,000 men, in all, 20,000 ; Cavalry^ niae 
regiments of four squadrons each ; in all, 7,200 ; 
Artillery, six batteries of eight pieces each, and 
two batteries of light artillery, also, of eight pieces 
each ; in all, sixtj-four pieces. According to the 
plans of the Dictator, the infantrj was to be aug- 
mented in the following manner. To each of the 
existing regiments was to be added a battalion of 
1,000, making a total of 9,000 men. He then 
proposed to form fifteen new regiments, thus in- 
creasing the number of regiments of infantry to 

magazines were iU proTided with powder, refused at first to receire 
any cartridges ; but on the remonstrance of the chief, they agreed 
to take thirty each man, (half the compliment for one battle,) 
saying that they would furnish themselTes afterwards from the 
Russians. They then entreated the commander in chief nerer to 
send them against a smaller body of the enemy than a division, 
and to use them whererer a decisiTe blow was reqtured. '* For- 
get, dear general," said they, " that we hare bo powder ; bat trust 
to our bayonets !" « 

It was truly affecting to witness the parting of the soldiers firom 
their friends and relatives ; fathers taking leave of children, chil- 
dren of fathers, husbands of wives, — and to hear the cries of sor- 
row mingled with animating shouts and patriotic hymns. These 
are moments of which I am unequal to the description ; but which 
eveiy freeman vrill form a conception of, — moments of the struggle 
between domestic happiness and public dn^; moments which 
show that the love of country is the most powerfhl of all senti- 
ments, and that men will sacrifice every thing under its impulses. 



93 THK POLISH REYOLUTIOK. 

twenty-four. Each one of the new regiments was 
to be composed of three battalions of 1 ,000 men 
each. The total of these new regiments would 
then have been 45^000 men, and the grand total 
of the new levy would be 54,000 men. This 
body of recruits was to be made up from those of 
the exempts (their term of service* having ex- 
pired) who were yet under the age of forty, and 
from all others under that age, and above that of 

sixteen. 

Of this force, six thousand men was to be fur- 
nished by Warsaw, and an equal number by each 
of the eight palatinates. Besides thW force, the 
enrollment of a national guard at Warsaw of 10,000 
men was ordered ; and in forming this body, no 
exemption was admitted except from age or bodily 
infirmity. Each of the eight palatinates was also 
to enroll a national guard of a thousand men. 
Thus the whole national guard was to consist of 
1 8,000 men. 

The cavalry was to be augmented as follows. 
From the whole gend'armerie, it was proposed to 
from a regiment of carabiniers, consisting of two 
squadrons of two hundred men each. To the nine 
existing regiments of cavalry it was proposed to 
add, as a reserve, four squadrons of two hundred 
each, making, in all, eight hundred. Ten new 
regiments were to be formed, of four squadrons 



* A service often years in the array, in person, or by substitute, 
was required by law of every citizen. 



tmE POLISH RSVOLUTIOIf* 9S 

each ; so that the whole namber of old and new 
ca?alrj would be twenty regiments. The whole 
augmentation of this army would amount to 9,200. 
The raising of this force, as in the case of the in- 
fantry, was to be equally divided between Warsaw 
and each of the eight palatinates. 

The artillery was to be augmented by four bat- 
teries, of eight pieces each, making a total of 
thirty-two pieces. 



KXCAPITVLATIOH. 






lahmtrf. 


Cavalrj. 


AHObry. 


New forces 54,000 


9,900 


S9 pioees. 


EzistlDg forces 19,000 


7,900 


64 « 


Total 7S,000 


I6|400 


96 « 


If we shookl add to thia num- 






ber the regimeDts formed bj the 






land proprietors at their own 






expense^ detachments of volun* 






teers, foreigners, and detach- 






ments of partizans, amounting 






perhaps to ... 6,000 


9,000 





The total might be increased to 79,000 18,400 96 

This force, although it would seem to be dis- 
proportionate to the resources of the kingdom, it 
was certainly possible to have raised ; for the en- 
ergy and spirit of the people were at the highest 
point, and every one felt the importance of im- 
proving the favorable moment, which the general 
state of Europe, and the weakness of Russia, pre- 
sented. If the reader will anticipate the course 
of events, and remember what a struggle, against 
the Russian force of more than 200,000 men, was 

13 



94 TH£ roLiaa revolution. 

sustained by tbe 40,000 osly which we actually 
brought into thf fieldi he may conjecture what 
advantages might have been expected from twice 
that number, which we should certainly have 
brought to the field, had the energy of the govern- 
ment followed out its plans. But from the inca- 
pacity of the Dictator for the energetic execution 
of his trust, these forces were never raised, and 
it was soon seen that Chlopicki, by assuming a 
duty to which he was unequal, gave the first blow 
to the rising fortunes of his country. Tbe Dicta- 
tor, as we have seen, had not even taken a step 
towards the organization of these forces, and one 
would have thought that he had thrown out these 
plans merely to blind tbe eyes of the nation, with- 
out having entertained the thought of taking the 
field. Two months passed away, the inevitable 
moment of the conflict arrived, and the nation was 
obliged to march to the fight with half the force, 
which, under an energetic administration, it would 
have wielded. If we add to this unfortunate state 
of things, that, besides the threatening forces of 
our gigantic enemy, Prussia and Austria, at this 
late moment, and especially the former, had began 
to take an attitude of hostility towards us, and 
thus all hope of sympathy from her neighbors was 
lost to Poland, the perilous nature of the crisis to 
which the delay of the dictatorial government had 
brought-^ US, thus unprepared, may be imagined. 
But Poland did not suffer herself f o be discouraged 
by all these unpropitions circumiPtances. Trusting 



TBB POLISH KBVOLUTIOlf. 96 

tatbm rifkteoiuBess of her cattse, she went forth 
to the contest, determined to fall or to be free. 



BTATwanan or the roftcst witb mnoa nn wut was aowawv 

A great exactitude in the computation of these 
forces would Y>e obviouslj inpraedcaliie, as the 
precise number of the detachments of Tolunteers, 
occasionally joining the army, serving in a parti- 
cular locality only, and often perhaps for a limited 
period, cannot be ascertained ; but it will not be 
difficult to make a pretty near approximation to 
the truth. 

At the beginning of the campaign, the forces 
were divided into four divisions of infantry, four 
of cavalry, and twelve batteries of artillery, of 
eight pieces each. 

The whole infantry con»sted of : 
The nine existing regiments, enlarged 

by one battalion to each regiment, 

making, in all, .... 27,000 
One battalion of sappers, • . 1,000 

A tenth regiment, of two battalions, 

called '< The Children of Warsaw," 2,000 

A battalion of v^unteers, added to the 

4th regiamut, .... 1,000 

Diferent detachments of vokinteefs, as 

the detachm^its of Michael Kussel, 

and the Eurpie or Foresters, &c. • 1,600 



^" 



Total of iDfiuitry, . 32,600 



96 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 

The four divisions of infantry were nearly equal, 
consisting of from 7 to 8,000 men each. To each 
of these divisions a corps of 250 sappers was at- 
tached. The divisions were commanded as fol- 
lows: 1st divbion by general Krukowiecki ; 2d 
division, general Zymirski ; 3d division, general 
Skrzynecki ; 4th division, general Szembek. 
The cavalry consisted of the nine existing 

regiments, . . . . • 7,200 
Four squadrons, added to these as a reserve 800 
. Two squadrons of carabiniers, • • 400 

Two regiments of krakus or light cavalry, 

of Podlasia and Lublin, « . 1,600 

Two regiments of Mazurs, , , 1 ,600 

Six squadrons of Kaliszian cavalry, • 1 ,200 
Two squadrons of lancers of Zamoyski, 400 



Total of cavalry, . . . 13,200 

This cavalry, which was composed of 66 squad- 
rons, was divided into four nearly equal bodies. 
They were commanded as follows: 1st division, 
by general Umin«ki, consisting of 16 squadrons ; 
2d division, general Stryinski, 15 squadrons ; 3d 
division, general Lubinski, 16 squadrons ; 4tlrdi- 
vision, making the reserve, under general Pac, 17 
squadrons. Besides those divisions, four squad- 
rons were designated for the corps of general 
Dwernicki. 

The artillery was divided into 12 batteries of 
eight pieces each, making in all 96 pieces. 



THS POLISH REVOLUTION. 97 

The geneial statement of the forces with which 
the campaign was commenced it then as follows : 

Infantry, 32,600. Cavalry, 13,200. Artillery, 
96 pieces. 

This incredibly small number marched to the 
combat against a Russian force of at least 200,000 
men and 300 cannon. In fact, bj the reports of 
field marshal Diebitsch, found after his retreat, 
and the detailed statements confidently made in 
the Berlin Gazette, the Russian forces amounted 
to 300,000 ; but we reject one third on the sup- 
position that the regiments had not been entirely 
completed. If the very thought of commencing a 
war with such disproportionate means, against so 
oTerwhelming a force, should seem to the reader 
to be little better than madness, he will appreciate 
the energy and courage with which it was sup- 
ported, when he learns that in twenty days, from 
the 10th of February to the 2d of March, thirteen 
sangumary battles were fought with the enemy, 
besides twice that number of small skirmishes, in 
which, as we shall see, that enemy was uniformly 
defeated, and a full third part of his forces anni- 
• hilated* 



CHAPTER VII. 

EBtrance of the RuMian forces into the Kingdom.—- ProdamatioDi of Mvihtl 
Diebitich. — ^Their effect. — ^Disposition of tlie Russian and Finish fbrcesw^ 
Plan of opentiow of the Polep, 

The Russian forces, simultaneously with the Po- 
lish, began to concentrate themselves on the fron- 
tiers of the kingdom, (See Plan No. 1) particularly 
at Bialystok (1 1) and Grodno (10). Four general 
points were designated for the entrance of this 
enormous force, viz. Zlotoria (12), Ciechanowiec 
(9), Brzesc (8), and Wlodawa (7). 

Marshal Diebitsch, on entering the kingdom, 
published a proclamation to the Poles, a copy of 
which is given in the note.* 

* ProekunaHon of the Field Marshal Count Diebilieh ZahMamky, 

to the Pidee. 

Pou» ! HIb ICf^esty tke Emperor and Eing^ our aagvit aove- 
reigOy iia« confided to me the command of the troops destined to 
put an end to the deplorable disorders which afflict the kingdom 
of Poland. The proclamation of his Majesty the Emperor and 
Sag has already apprised you that the Emperor has wished, in 
his generosity, to distinguish his faithful subjects who have re- 
spected their oaths, from the guilty instigators of disorder who 
have sacrificed to their odious ambition the interests of a happy 
and peaceful community. Nay, more, he wishes to extend his 
benevolence and his clemency to the unfortunate persons who 
through weakness or fear have lent themselves as the accomplices 
of a deplorable efklerprize. Poles I Hear the voice of your sove- 
reigiMU>d your father, the successor of the august iprtorer of your 
country, who like- him has always desired ^ur happineas. Even 
the guilty will experiensn the eflfects of his magnanimity, if they 
ynUl trust to it with confidence. Those ^y wlio have dipped 



TUX POUSH BXT<MLUTION« 99 



Those prodamatioiis were publbhed in the lattet 
part of JaBoary. The people were disgnted with 



bands ia bloed, and those who still mors gvUQr perhaps^ 
have excited others to do this, will meet the just pnnishmsaf la 
which the law coodemos them. 

1. At the tnomeDt of enterkif with the troops which I <^««m>"^ 
into the kingdom of Polftid, I wish to convioce jou of the princi- 
ples which wiU guide all my steps. A faithful soldier, and a 
coDscieBtiovs executor of the orders of my sovereign, I will never 
depart from them. The peaceful inhabitanti who shall receive 
us as friends and bfothen, will find their firieadlj dispositions 
reciprocated by the troops placed under my orders. The soldiers 
will pay a fair price for every thing which shall be furnished to 
them, and if circumstances require that the troops shall be provi- 
sioned by the inhabitants, or if we shall be forced to make requi- 
ntions (which we shall endeavor to avoid as far as possible,) in 
such oases the inhabitants wiU receive payment in printed ceiw 
tificateS) which wHl be taken as money at the offices for the pay* 
ment oi imposts. Prices will be established for the provisions 
famished according to the current value of the articles in the di^ 
forent districts* 

^ On the approach of the Russian troops, the inhabitants of 
the towns and villages, who have taken arms in obedience to the 
orders of the government which has been illegally instituted, will 
be required to surrender their arms to the local authorities, if 
those latter riiall have returned to their doty. In other cases, 
they will be required to give up their arms upon the entrance of 
the troops of his majesty the Emperor and King. 

8. Every inhabitant, wh6, forgetting the duties which he owes" 
to his sovereign, shall persevere in the revolt, and shall be taken 
with arms in his hands, will have to meet the utmost rigor of the 
law. Those who shall attempt to defend themselves against the 
troops, shall be delivered over to a council of war. The towns and 
villages who shaH dare to resist his majesty the Emperor and 
King, wifl be punished according to the degree their resistance 
shall have been carried, by an extraordinary coatribntioD, more or 
less heavy. This contribution will be principally levied .gpon 
those who shall have #aken part in a criming defence, either by 
carrying arms themselves, or by exciting ^^^ ^ ^^t ciime. In 
case of j^lapse firom a return to doty, and of r^WU^^ -^ ^^ r^g. 



79^5'^^^ 



100 THE POLISH REVOLUTIOn. 

their promises and their menaces, and rejecting 
all idea of reconciliation on such terms as these 

of the Russian army, the insurgent places shall be treated wiA 
the utmost military rigor. The principal instigators shall be pun- 
ished with death, and the others exiled ; but the greatest care will 
be taken to distinguish and protect those who shall hare had no 
part in the crime. * 

4. To prevent such evils, I invite all the authorities, civil as wdl 
as military, who may be in the towns and cities, to send deputies 
to the commanders of the Rnssian^ forces, when these forces shaH 
arrive. Such deputations will bring with them as a sign of sub- 
mission to their legitimate sovereign, a white flag. They wUl be 
expected to announce that the inhabitants submit themselves to the 
benevolence of his majesty the Emperor and King, and that their 
arms have been deposited in some place which shall be designated. 
The Russian commanders will then take the necessary measures 
of security. They will maintain the civil authorities, which ex- 
isted before the revolt, as well as those which shaU have been 
instituted afterwards, if they have taken no active part in the re- 
bellion. The sedentary guard of veterans will be continued, if 
they have not engaged in the resistance, or given manifest prooft 
of treason towards their legitimate sovereign. All those authori- 
ties, civil as well as military, will be required to renew their oaths 
of fidelity. Conformably to the orders of his majesty the Emperor 
and King, an amnesty and pardon for the past will be given to all 
of those who shall submit without delay, and shall comply with the 
conditions which have been above mentioned. 

5. The Russian commanders shall organize, as circumstances 
may require, in the places where no Rufeian garrisons may remain, 
a civil and municipal guard, who shall be chosen from among the 
most faithful of the veterans, and the inhabitants shall be entrusted 
vrith the interior police, as far as may be necessary to secure order 
and tranquillity. 

6. The organization of the administration of the Palatinates, 
arrondissements, and eommunes, will remain upon the footing on 
which it was before the insurrection. It will be the same with all 
the dferect and indirect taxes. The authorities will remain in their 
places after they shall have complied withjihe above conditions. 
In other cases, new autHbrities will be established by the choice of 
the commanders of the Russian forces. That choice will faU prin- 



7HS POLISH BCTOL0TIO% 101 

]^K)clamatioiis set forth, they entreated to be led 
to the struggle in whidr they had once decided to 

m 

dpall^ upon tb« iadyvidoali wbo mmj aoke, with the necetMiy 
eapaci^, an established mon} character, and who shall hare giTen 
proofs of their fidelity to their legitimate so?ereifD. All those 
will bei excluded who shall haTe taknn any pan whaterer in the 
rebellion, as well as those who after the eatraace of the Russtaa 
troops into the kingdom shsll persist in an organized oppositioa 
against lega^order. The proprietors of land and houses who may 
remain tranquil in thenr habitations^ and shall submit to the eondi* 
tions above announced, will be protected in their rights, as well 
by the local authorities as by the Russiaa troops. In other eases, 
the property of all those who shall remain in the revohitimiary 
ranks will be sequestered, as welf as that of those who shall hare 
continued to exercise the functions entrusted to them by the illegal 
government, or in some who shaU have openly taken part in the 
revolt. Such are, Poles, the priociples which will direct the army 
which his Majesty has deigned to confide to my command. Tou 
have to dtooae between the benefits which an unqoalified submis- 
sion to the will of our magnanimous sovereign assures to you, and 
the bvHb which will be brought upon you by a state of things with- 
out object as well as without hope. I hold it in • honor to have 
been called upon to make known to you these resolutions, eman- 
ating from the generous intentions of the Emperor and King. I 
shall exeente them scrupulously, but I shall not fail to punish 
criminal obstinacy vrith infiezible severity. 

(Signed) Thb Marshai^ Coukt Dibbitscb Zabalkahskv. 

ProcUmuaum of the Count Diebitseh -ZabMmuky to the PoUsh 

troops. 

GsarKBOvs Polbs I Twenty<^ve years sinoe, your country was 
imffieated hi the wan which the gigantic i^ns of a celebrated 
eonqueror had kindled. The hope, often awakraed, and always 
disappointed, of an illusory regeneration, had connected you with 
his forninea. Faithftil,^althoagh unfortunat^prou answered those 
deeeptive promises by the sacrifice of your blood, ^here is scarce 
a ooantry, howikr distant it may have been, that has not lAen 
wet with that blood wfaltfi you have prodigal^ shed for interests 
altogether foreign to the destiny of your country.. Great events 
brought at last, at a remarkable epoch, an end to your misfortunep. 

13 



102 ipE POU8B RETOLUTIOff« 

engage, preferring every sacrifice to bo degradKog 
a sabmission. They denranded that an aMwer 

After a Axmteety fbrever tnein^oraMe, in which Russia saw yon 
among the number of her enemiesy the Hlmperor Alexander, Off 
immortal memory, obeying only the impfulse of his magnanimous 
heart, wished to add to all his other titles to glory, that of being 
the restorer of your country. Poland recoTered her name, and 
the Polish army a new life. All the elements of national welftune, 
of tranquUlity, and of prosperity, were miraculously^mited* and 
fifteen years of uninterrupted progress prove, to this day, the great- 
ness of the benefits for which your country is indebted to the pa^ 
temal solicitude of the sovereign who was its restorer, and to the 
no less earnest concern of him who has so nobly continved the 
work of his predecessor. 

Polish Warriors! His Majesty the Emperor and King hmm 
trusted to your gratitude and your fidelity. A short time since be 
gladly did justice to your devotedness and your good wHl. * The 
exemplary conduct of all the PoUsh officers, without exception, who 
partook with our armies the fatigues and the glory of the Torkisfa 
war, had given a high satisfaction to his Majesty. We accepted 
with pleasure this fraternity of arms ipi^iicfa became a new* bead 
betwe^i the Rus&ian and Polish troops. The best hope of recip- 
rocal advantages should connect widt diat union, which was 
founded upon aH that is sacred in military honor. Those hopes 
have been cruelly deceived. A handfbl of young men, who have 
never known the dangers of battle, of young ofikers who had never 
passed through a campaign or even a march, have shaken the 
fidelity of the brave. The latter have seen committed in their ranks 
the greatest of crimes, the murder of their commanders ; they have 
not arrested the revolt against their legitimate sovereign. What 
unhappy blindness, what cJHminal condeseensicm has been able to 
induce these veterans to permit tlie coBSummatton of the great^ft 
of offences, and to join themselves with those whose haadi were 
rjtaiDed with bloodi Can it be possible tb«t the design of render- 
ing a service to thei^pountry has been made for a moment a pre- 
text for such c<mduct? That country can answeMhat for a long 
peribd she had never enjoyed so much happine8s.1nhe had attain- 
ed much, and she could still hope much ftinn her fidetity) and the 
support of public order. She exposes herself to the lo8» of all 
th^e advantages by engaging in an unequal struggle, in rev^ting 



liKmld be 9eBt to Di^ttdi, iaformiBg hlfli that 
they were ready to meet hiuii and called opoo ibe 



agaiwt a mw^reiga whoM firan aftd eMcgelio ehuMsr m trafl 
kiKiwtty nod is brmTiog a power whiek has nerer been defied with 
imponitj. 

PoKeh Werrion! Rebellion weald etamp opon yoar froat the 
stain of dieboiior. Rnt away from yoa luch eo ignofninjr. Hi^ 
tory will eae day r^ale, thai? in the hope of lenring yonr cooatry, 
yoa have been faithfal and deyoted to the man who promised you 
0v^ry thing) and kept his premise in nothing. Shall it also say 
that, payiBg with ingratitoda and perjury the sorereign who has 
generonsly granted yon erery thing which yon had any right to hope 
fyty yoa hare drawn down apon your country new misfortunes, 
and npon yonrselres an indelible disgrace? If somo'grierances 
existed, you shoulji -hare had ooniidence enough in the character of 
our august sovereign to have laid before him your coroplaiBts, in 
a legal manner, and with that firankoess which eharacteriaes the 
trne soldien And I too, Poles, I speak the sincere language of a 
sok^er ;' I hare neyer kuown any other. Obedient to the orders 
of my sorereign, I reiterate, by his wishes, ail the propositions 
whicii> in bis demeoey* he has already made to you by his procla- 
mation of the 17tb of Decen^ier. Our august sovereign has-wit* 
nessed, with marked satisfaction, the fidellQr of the brave light- 
cavalry of the guard, of the greater part of the grenadiers of the 
guard, and of die sub^officers of the cavalry. He does not doubt 
that the greater part of the troops cherished the desire |o remain 
faidiffil to their oaths, and that many others were hurried away 
only by the impalse of the moment. Let each one hasten to exe- 
cute the orders which are contained in the proclamation of his 
majesty. But if unforeseen circumstances do not permit you to 
fiiUow the course which has been pointed out to you, at least, an 
tki» approach of the faithfUl armies of our common sovereign, 
remember your duties and your oaths. It is not as enemies that 
the troops plaoed under my command enter the kingdom of Poland. 
It is on the contrary with tlie noble object oCae-establishing public 
order and tbe^ws* They will receive as orotlflrs ail persons, 
either in civil^Pmilitary^fe, who slndl return to their duties ', but 
th^ will know bow ta subdue, with the constancy and courage 
which they have eter manifested, the resistance which evil-minded 
men may attempt to oppose to them, — men who, trampling under 



104 1|^ POLISH REYOLUTIOIf. 

government to commence hostilities without a mo- 
ment's delay.* 

foot the sacredness of their oaths and the laws of hon<H*, sacrifice 
to their ambitious and eTcn criminal projects the dearest i&terests 
6f their couqtry. It is to you especially, generals and colonels of 
the Polish army, that I address myself with confidence ; to you, 
whom I have been accustomed to regard as my worthy brothers in 
arms. Return from the momentary error to which you iiaye been 
capable of surrendering yourselves, that you may, in joining the 
rebellious, bring them back to their duties, and serve your country 
without violating your oaths. Experience will have disabused 
you of your error; return to the path of fidelity, and you will by 
that restore the happiness of your country. You know the clem- 
ency of our august sovereign: return to him. Weigh well the 
immense res|)on8ibility which you will take upon yo«r heads by a 
erimiaal obstinacy. Join yourselves to your brothers in arms. 
Show that yon are still worthy to be the commK9ders of the troops 
which your sovereign has entrusted to you* You will be received 
as brothers. An amnesty of the past is assured to you. Q'he 
troops which I command will :folfil with loyalty the intentions of 

, our sovei^ign, and the gratitude of your country, restored to tran- 
quillity, will be a delightful reward for your return to your iutj» 
But if there are found among you onen hardened in crime, who 
cannot be persuaded to trust- in magnanimity, because they know 
not the elevated sentiments in which it has its origin, let all the 
bonds of fiilitary fraternity between you and them be broken ; the 
all-powerful hand of God, the protector of the good cause, will 

* bring down upon their heads the punishment due to their crimes; 
(Signed) Ths Marshal DiEBiTiCH Zabalkaksky. 

■* 

* To the proclamations of general Diebitsch, one of our coun- 
trymen made a reply, in the form of a letter, which was published 
in the gazettes, and which, as far as my memory serves me, was 
in nearly the following terms : " General^ your proclamations, 
which breathe the sp||lt of injustice, arrogance, and cruelty — the 
menacing tone or which is backed b|y the colossal^ut:e you have 
led to the inva^n of our territory, and which yoCRfte to wield as 
an instrument for establishing a new tyranny and Inflicting new 
sufferings upon a country of freemen, — these proclamations, gene- 
ra], prove that the favorable opinion which Europe entertained of 



$ 



/ /• *♦'. 




. taz POLISH reVolutioh. t06 

The Rassian /orces, iSee Plan No. 1 • (a)] con- 

■ 

sisting, as we have already mentionedy of about 
200,(KK) men and 300 pieces of cannon, had, on 
about the 5th of February, passed the Polish 

»you was itt-^romided, and that you too, like the real, art willing 
to lend yourself an easy %nd vile instrument in the htiids of the 
oppressor. Diebitsch 1 Can it be you who so recently passed the 
Balkan, to deliver a nation from the yoke of barbarism, — an action 
which gained for you so great a name in history ? 

" Do you remember the proclamations which you published on 
that occasion, how different from these, filled with noble thoughts, 
and in which you felicitated yourself on being placed in command 
of on amy destined to deliver the unfortunate Greek nation from 
the barbarism which was oppressing it. What a contrast ! There 
you went to deliver the unfortunate ; here you come to increase 
the sufierings of a nation which has for fifteen years been op- 
pressed in a manner which was well known to you, and which it 
is horrible to think of. General, have you foit|otten how you 
were received at Warsaw, after your return ftom the campaign 
of Turkey ? Have you lost the recollection of those iooks of wel- 
come and of joy at the sight of the man who had effected the de- 
liverance of an unfortuQete and oppressed nation ? You were tl^m 
touched, for the sentiments of the Polish natioif were in harmony 
with those which you youi^elf then entertained. All those recol- 
lections you have turned away from. Dazzled by false ideas of 
greatness, arrogance has driven from your heart those noble sen- 
timents which would have made you truly great. Diebitsch ! Po- 
land once had confidence in you. Many Poles had hoped that you 
would act as a mediator between your monarch and us. No one 
could be in a more favorable situation than youfself to set hefore 
tbat monarch the nature of our sufferings, and the claims which 
we had upon his justice. You would have been in a situation to 
persuade him that the time had come to aid the cause of civiliza- 
tion, and to promote his own happiness, by conceding to a nation 
those rights which are essential to its happiness and prosperity. < 
Foland hail^pch expectations of you. You, alone, who ^re so 

. ny the person of the monarch, and to whom his character is so 
tfittmately known, you could have done this. Such conduct would 
have.added indeed to the glory you had already acquired. Who 



106 ^JBUC^^OLiSH R£VOI.CTIOII« 

frontier at the fimr general pomtB abore named 
(7, 8, 9, 12.) Their different eommanders, be- 
aides the marshal Diebitsch, were, the Grand 
Duke Constantinei generals Rosen, Pablen, Gets- 
mer, Kreutz, prince Wirtemberg, and Witt. The 
chief d'etat major was general Toll, the most skil-- 
ful of the Russian generals. The space designat- 
ed for the entrance gf the different detachments of 
the Russian corps embraced an extent of ninety- 
six English miles. This space was almost wholly 
occupied by either small or large detachments. 
General Diebitsch, meaning to attack oar centre 
at Siedlce with a part of his army, intended to 
outflank us with the rest, and to march directly 
upon Warsaw ; and thus, following the plan of 
Napoleon in the campaign of Prussia, in 11)06, at 
Jena and i4:uerstacdt, to cripple our front, and to 
pat an end to the war in a moment. The plans 
of this renowned commander were well understood 
by our general officers, and to resist them, it was 
determined to contract our forces (6) into a line of 
operations, narrow, but concentrated and strong ; 
a coarse which our inferiority of force seemed to 
require. This line was posted as follows. Our 

left wing, coif^isting of the fourth division of gea- 

■ ' ■ ' ■ ■ > ■ ■ 

tbea would hare equalled you ? But, for your misfortune, you 
hare chofen another course, and by acting as a servile instrumeot 
of tyranny you hare tarnished all your fbrmer glory^ Know then, 
Dielrit^h, that the Poles despise you. Spare both^kur promises 
and your menaces ; for witih neither will you effect anythiMf* 
They long for the approach of your colossal masses, that tSy 
BMy give you an example of what fraemea can do.'' ' 



MIB P0U8H IUETOLU9I0]f» 107 

eral Seenbek md A divismi of cavalry mder gen* 
eial Uminski, wm in tbe environs of Pultiuk (14). 
Tbia wing seat its reconooissances towards Ostro* 
lenka (4). In the environs of the town of Jadow 
(16), was the division of general Knikowiecki ; 
asd in the environs of Wengrow (15), the division 
of genera) Skrzynecki, with the division of cavalrj 
commanded bj general LubinskK The centre of 
our position was abont half waj between the two 
latter places. Om right wing was at Siedlce (2), 
and was composed of tbe 2d division of infantry 
under general Zjmirski, and the 2d division of 
cavalry under general Stryinski. To cover the 
right wing, a small corps under the command of 
general Dwemicki Was posted at Seroczyn (17). 
That corps consisted of 3,000 iniantry, 800 horse, 
and three pieces of cannon. Diflbrent ^patrols of 
cavalry were employed in observing the enemy 
along the whole space between Sokolow, Bfiend- 
zyrzec, and Parczewo. The rivers Narew (N), 
Bug (B), and Liewiec (L), covered the whole 
line of our operations, and made it sufficiently 
strong. Our centre, especially, was well posted 
between Jadow (16), Wengrow (15), and Siedlce 
(2). It was protected by the great Aarshes form- 
ed by the river Liewiec (L). Excepting in a few 
points, which were well fortified, these marshes 
were wholly impassable. It is to be regretted 
that this jAsition was not made still stronger by 
vette ample fortifications. Besides making the 
passage of this point cost a more severe loss to the « 



108 TBS ^LISH REVOLUTION^ 

enemj, such fortificatioos would have enabled us 
to spare one whole division for other purposes* 
fortifications of positions should always be the 
more freely combined with tactics, in proportion 
to the inferiority of a force. 

In the above mentioned position we were to 
await the first shock of the enemy, after which 
the army was to retire slowly towards the envi- 
rons- of Praga, . and in such a manner that each 
corps should always be on the parallel with the 
rest. In this retreat each corps was required to 
profit by every opportunity, to causa the utmost 
loss to the enemy, and to harass him as much as 
possible. By a retreat of this nature, it was in- 
tended to draw the enemy on to the walls of War- 
saw, and, having weakened him during such a 
retreat, t|kgive him. a decisive battle there^ 



« 
• 



CHAPTER VIII. 

The opei^ ik«w— Afiin of A* 19lh ud 1 lib relvMi7.-^Co^b«t tf 
^Disposition in cooMfoencs of tiMt bsttle.— Bittit of Boimim,^Mn 
movemoiit to Dobro.— ^^ombtt of Mikowiec— PtMige of the Onjea.-^oai- 
b«l of DobNkr-Attack on tho ri^t wing at MsMk. 

The tenth of February, 1831, was the first daj, 
after an interval of fifteen years, of the encounter 
between the Russian and Polish arms* Mend^ 
zyrzec (18) was the place in which the first fire 
was given ; and the little skirmish which took 
place there was of good presage. On the morning 
of that day, two regiments of Cossacks showed 
themselves upon the plain before the town, on 
which were posted two regiments of krakus, or 
light cavalry, and the 4th regiment of lancers, as 
an advanced guard. Our cavalry were impatient 
to engage with the enemy, and begged of their 
commander to be allowed to attack him. When 
it was seen that this body of the enemy was de- 
tached from his larger force, permission was given 
to one of the two new regiments of light cavalry, 
supported by a squadron of the old ^avalry as a 
reserve, to throw themselves upon the enemy. In 
a moment our cavalry were among the ranks of 
the Cossacks. Both of the enemy's regiments 
were dispersed, and one squadron with six officers 
were taken ^prisoners. The enemy was not pur^ 
sued, our troops being satisfied with this success- 
ful attack, and with "having excited the first con* 

14 






110 THE -POLISH REVOLUTlOn. 

sternation in the ctiemy's ranks. After this skir- 
^misb) our cavalry, in obedience to previous instruc- 
tions, retired to the environs of Siedlce (2). In 
this town was a little garrison consisting of a regi- 
ment of light infantry and a detachment of rifle- 
men, formed and commanded by Michael Kuszel. 
On -the I Uh, at about mid-day, the whole of the 
advanced guard of the Russian centre, which was 
commanded by Diebitsch in person, reached the 
environs of Siedlce {2), and took position there. 
Before the night set in, other Russian columns 
began to place themselves upon the same plain. 
Their advanced guard then recommenced the 
march, throwing their tirailleurs forward, who 
began a warm fire, which was answered by our 
own light troops, who were placed in the faubourgs 
and the sides of the town. The brave detachment 
of Kuszel's riflemen, who were finely trained and 
equipped, caused a great loss to the enemy. The 
Russian artillery, to protect their tirailleurs and 
tlie columns of infantry which followed them, 
commenced a Tieavy fire upon the faubourgs oc- 
cupied by our infantry. This fire of the Russian 
artillery was ineflectual ; but our own fire, as the 
Russians weffe exposed in an open plain, was very 
destructive. The action continued until dark, 
when our infantry began to evacuate the town, 
and marched to rejoin the divisionary camp, which 
was about a mile in the rear. 

At 8 o'clock, general Zymirski, supposing that 
the enemy had taken possession of the town, d«- 



V 




vi~ a>c e^ ^ 






H-, 






^ 



a* 



<-:f 



^ 



<5 



I /--, 



\ . 



THE POLISH REVOLUTION. Ill 

termined to make an attack, with two regimen ts, 
npon the town and the Russian camp, at the point 
of the bayonet. The 7th regiment of the line and 
the 4th regiment of light infantry, which were 
designated for this object, fell with impetuosity 
upon the enemy, whom they found in an wholly 
unprepared state. A few hundred prisoners were 
the fruits of this attack, after which our forces 
evacuated the town. These little advantages 
gained in those two days, retarded the advance of 
the enemy. He remained inactive on the 12th 
and 13th. On the 14th, the Russian corps under 
the command of general Kreutz, composed of 
15,000 men and 24 pieces of cannon, attacked the 
small corps of observation on our right, under the 
command of general Dwernicki. 



COMBAT OF STOC2>]!lK. [8€4,Plmnlh} 

General Dwernicki, although aware of the vast 
superiority of the enemy's force, yet, trusting in 
the strength of his own position, determined 
to meet his attack and give him battle. The 
position ■ of ^toczek (a) was strong in several 
respects ; first, from its commanding elevation ; 
secondly, from the circumstance that the town is 
protected by the river Swider (6), which forms 
marshes that are not passable but by a dyke (m) 
at a short distance from the city, in the direction 
in which the Russian army was approaching. 
That dyke was defended by the whole artillery of 



112 THB POLISH REVOLUTION. 

our cOTps, consisting of three pieces (e) ; and the 
declivity descending toward the dyke was occu- 
pied by two cooipanies of light troops dispersed in 
favorable positions as sharp-shooters, and in such 
a manner as to act on the dyke. General Dwer- 
nicki divided his forces into the smallest possible 
bodies, to give an appearance of extent to his line, 
and thus mask his inferiority of force. Leaving a 
battalion of infantry (d) to protect the artillery 
and prevent the passage of the dyke, — which pas- 
sage, ha was sure that the enemy could not possi- 
bly execute rapidly, and that this small force was 
sufficient, if not to prevent at least to retard it, — 
be took the two battalions (d) which made the 
remainder of his force, and throwing them upon 
the right bank (A) of this river, in the forest, 
where an easier and safer passage was open to the 
enemy, he there awaited the enemy's movements. 
The first step of the Russians (gy h) was to place 
all their artillery (/) at the nearest possible point 
to our position, and to commence a warm fire upon 
the town. Under this fire they thought to effect 
the passage of the dyke. General Dwemicki 
ordered his artillery not to fire, until the Russian 
columns should make thair appearance on tte 
dyke, and then to open a fire of grape upon them. 
In this manner some hours passed, during which 
the Russian artillery kept up an ineffectual fire, 
and the Russian corps executed various manoeu-* 
vres in attempting to force the passage of the 
dyke, and in pushing their attack in the direction 



THS POLISH REVOLUTION. 113 

of the forest. General Kreutz, seeing that hi& 
attempts to force the cljke were attended with 
severe loss, and thinking that in the other direc- 
tion the passage would be much more easy, de- 
cided on a general attack in that quarter. He 
divided his corps, leaving one part before the 
dyke, and with the remainder advanced to the 
attack of our right (A). Strong columns of Rus- 
sian infantry and cavalry marched against it. As 
soon as this manoeuvre was observed by Dwer- 
nicki, the idea was conceived by him of prevent- 
ing the attack, by throwing himself with the ut- 
most impetuosity upon the enemy before he had 
taken a position, and while on the march. He 
renewed his orders to defend with the utmost, 
firmness the passage of the dyke ; and, taking all 
the cavalry with him, he passed over towards the 
forest ; and, with the united force of this cavalry 
and the infantry who were concealed in the forest, 
he threw himself upon the Russian artillery^ and 
the cavalry which was protecting it. * In a moment 
both artillery and cavalry were completely over- 
thrown and dispersed, and seven pieces of cannon 
retnained in our hands* The disorder communi- 
cated itself to the columns which were on tjie 
march, who thought no longer of following up 
their attack, but retreated as fast as possible, and 
in fact a general and disorderly retreat commenced. 
The ruin of their left wing caused a consternation 
in the forces composing their right, who, not know* 
ing what had happened, ceased their fire, quitted 



114 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 

their position, and joined in the general retreat* 
Besides the killed and wounded, more than 1,000 
prisoners, with twenty o£Bcers, were taken, to- 
gether with a great ^[uantity of ammunition, bag- 
gage, &c. among which were several voitures con- 
taining the chapels of the camp.* 

The enemy was followed a short distance only, 
as the inferiority of our force would not of course 
admit of an extended pursuit, and it was an im- 
portant object also with general Dwernicki not to 
permit the enemy to discover that inferiority. He 
contented himself therefore with having destroyed 
nearly a third part of the enemy's corps, and with 
having thrown his whole force into the greatest 
consternation. This brilliant affair was the com- 
meacement of the remarkable career of general 
Dwernicki; and it was a propitious opening for 
our campaign. 

General Dwernicki resumed his former position 
at Stoczek, where he ^waited the orders which 
the commander in chief might issue on receiving 
the report of what had taken place. To make this 
position more strong, he ordered a barricade of 



• It was in this battle that the celebrated Matuszka (in Rassian 
Mamyuika,) or the image of the Holy Mother, fell into j)ur hands. 
This image was held in great veneration by that superstitious 
people. In the campaign of Turkey, many of theiB: successes 
were attributed to the Mamyuika. Its loss ooeanoned a general 
sensation in the Russian army, and was regarded by them as a 
most unfavorable presage. We often heard the prisoners whom 
we afterwards took, attribute all their misfortunes to the Holy 
Mother having abandoned them. 



TH£ POLISH REVOLUTION* 115 

trees to be made at the fermination of the djke 
afld at the other points where the approach was 
easy, and, in order to keep a close obserration 
upcm the enemy, he sent patrols in the direction 
of Kock and Zelechow. While thus occupied, be 
received orders to leave his position immediately 
by a rapid march in the direction of Zelechow and 
Macieiowice, then to pass the Vistula and meet 
the Russian corps under the command of the 
Prince Wirtemberg, who, after having crossed 
that river at Pulawa,. had made a demonstration 
on its left bank, and was approaching Warsaw* 

On receiving these orders, general Dwemicki 
left Stoczek on the same night. 

In consequence of the enemy's attack upon 
Dwernicki's corps, which covered our right wing, 
that wing was incliped and withdrawn towards 
Kaluszyn, in order not to be exposed to the ene- 
my's demonstrations upon its flank or rear. The 
town of Minsk was also occupied by a detachment* 
On the 15th the Russians made a simultaneous 
attack on Wengrow and Kaluszyn. But the prin- 
cipal attack was intended to be directed against 
Kaluszyn, or rather the village of Boimie adjoining 
it. At Wengrow the attack was masked. 'By^a 
strong attack upon our right wing, the enemy had 
the design of gaining the great road to Warsaw, a 
plan which it was of the utmost importance for us 
to defeat ; for, if he should have succeeded in 
forcing our right wing, he would have cut off our 
communications with the corps of general Skrzy- 



116 THE POLISH REyOLVnON* 

necki, and Kru^owiecki, which were in a more 
advanced position. Our generals saw the neces- 
sity of the most determined defence^of the position^ 
and general Zymirski resolved to resist to the last 
extremity. 



BATTLE OF BOIMIE. [See Pbm III.] 

The battle of Boimie consisted of a persevering 
effort on the part of the enemy to force the 
passage of a dyke (A:), under the protection of 
the fire of a strong battery of artillery (e). On 
our side, every effort was directed to the making 
of the passage of that dyke as destructive as pos- 
sible to the enemy. For this object our arrange- 
ments were made as follows. # On the night of the 
14th, we destroyed the bridges (m) over the small 
river of Kostrzyn/ which traverses the dyke or 
main road in two places. Not far from the near- 
est bridge, a defence of branches of tre^s (n) was 
thrown together, which having been well placed, 
made a good cover for our marksmen, and for a 
battalion of infantry (o), which wer« concealed 
behind them. The fire of grape from the enemy's 
artillery was rendered ineffective to a great degree 
by this mass of trees. Upon the nearest eleva- 
tions of ground (B), general Zymirski placed 
eighteen pieces of cannon (a), the fire of which 
was concentrated upon the dyke. By this means 
tYery attempt of the enemy to re-construct the 



> • 



TBI POLISH RKTOLUTIOM. 117 

bridge wft9 made to cost him a severe loss, and 
was rendered ioefiectual. The Biain bodjr of oor 
forces was placed without the reaeh of the enomj's 
artillery. On the left of our positioBt at the dis- 
tance of about half a mile, a small road (p) led to 
Dobre, and that road was intersected by the small 
river above mentioned. The bridge which contin- 
ued the road over this river was destroyed by us, 
and a small detachment placed there to prevent its 
reconstruction and its passage by the enemy. 

Such was the distribution of the small ftMrca, 
which, profiting by the strength of its position, 
was able to meet the attacks of the numerous body 
of the enemy commanded by marshal Diebitsch in 
person, and which were renewed during the whole 
day. 

The details of the action are as follows :-«- At 
about 9 o'clock on the morning of the 1 5th, the 
Russian force commenced debouching from th^ 
forests which border the main road, between Min- 
gosy and Boimie, and deploying to die right and. 
left, took position. In a short time the field was 
covered with the enemy's masses. His force con- 
sisted of twelve regiments of infantry (/), six of 
cavalry (g)j and sixty pieces of cannon. It was 
at about noon that the enemy placed his artillery 
upon the heights (A) above the bridge and com- 
menced his fire. After continuing for some time 
thb fire, which was but occasionally answered by 
our artillery, the enemy sent several battalions in 
column upon the bridge, a part of which force 

15 



118 THE POLISH RETOLUTIOII. 

engaged in the repair of the bridgei and the rest 
attempted to make the passage. Every approach 
of the enemy was inet with a warm^fire from be- 
hind the defence of trees above mentioned, and 
our artillery at the same time opened a destroctive 
fire of grape upon the bridge.. The attempts of 
the enemy were renewed for some hours, in vain. 

Finding the impossibility of forcing this passage, 
he directed his efforts to that on his right (D), and 
sent a cloud of light infantry and cavalry to at- 
tempt to pass the marshes, and ford the stream. 
But this passage was equally impossible, and sev- 
eral Russian regiments, who were engaged in the 
attempt, exposed themselves to a severe fire of 
platoons from our troops, and several staff* officers 
of the enemy were killed at the head of those 
regiments. ' In these renewed and bloody attempts, 
the day passed away, and as the night approached, 
our troops quietly evacuated their position, and 
took another a few miles in the rear. 

As to the affair at Wengrow, it was only an 
cng^einent with the rear guard of the corps of 
general Skrzynecki. That general, knovnng his 
position to be too far advanced, decided to retire 
as far as the environs of Dobre. This retreat 
was so orderly that it seemed rather an evolution 
than a retreat. All the movements were executed 
with perfect coolness, and the alternate retreat 
and fire of the different battalions, the displaying 
and closing of the columns, the change of front, 
&c. were executed with such precision that it im- 



TH» POLISH RSTOLUTIOH. 119 

pleased tbe enemj with a certain degree of respect, 
and though three times superior in force he did 
not attempt to piish his attack. In this manner 
tbe corps arrived at the village of Makowiec, 
where it took position. On the next day, with the 
exception of a few light skirmishes between the 
outposts, nothing of importance took place. The 
right wing received on that day the order to fall 
back as far as Minsk, some miles in the rear of 
their former position. On the evening of that day 
the line of operation of our army was as follows :— 
Our left wing was at Zegrz, tbe centre in the 
environs of Dobre, and. the right wing at Minsk. 

On tbe 17th, the. enemy attacked our centre at 
Dobre and our right, at Minsk. It was a day oi 
gres^t bloodshed along our whole line, but, like the 
preceding, highly honorable to our arms. 



BATTLE OF MAKOVHEC AND DOBRE. [See Plan IV.] 

This battle is generally known by the name of 
the battle of Dobre ; but as it was fought in two 
different positions, and with two different plans of 
operation, I have given the name of the two gen- 
eral positions, in speaking of the battle. General 
Skrzynecki was, as we have already remarked, in 
a position too far in advance of our right wing ; 
and as the enemy on that day had attacked, as we 
have also stated, the right wing and the centre 
simultaneously, and could have made, as will be 



120 THE POLISH REVOLUTIOIC. 

seen by the plan, a demonstration on Stamslawow^ 
and thus have acted on the rear of Skrzjneeki, 
which was nearest to him, that general had two 
objects to effect. First to make the attack of the 
enemy as costly to him as possible, and next to 
arrange his retrograde movement in such a manner 
as to be able to reach Stanislawow by night. Both 
of these design^ were exceedingly well executed. 
Upon each of his positions he was master of his 
own movements, and quitted them at his own time. 
This aflair of the 17th of February was the occa- 
sion of the first developement of the remarkable 
talents of this commander. It was then that he 
first awakened the high expectations and gained 
the confidence of the nation, which soon after com- 
mitted to him the trust so honorably and faithfully 
executed by him. In regard to the first position at 
Makowiec, the reader will observe, on examining 
the plan, that the Polish forces were principally 
engaged in defending a triangular space embraced 
between tljp two roads (/) which lead from Wen- 
grow and Kaluszyn and meet behind Makowiec (h.) 
This space, over which small elevations covered 
with brush-wood were scattered, afforded good po- 
sitions for artillery as well as infantry ; but the prin- 
cipal advantage of this peculiarity of the ground 
was, that it concealed the inferiority of our forces. 
In this position, the village of Makowiec was made 
a point d^appui upon our left wing, and it was de- 
fended by five companies (rf), under the command 
of colonel Dombrowski. Six pieces of artillery (e) 



THC POU8H RlTOLUTIOlf. ' 121 

placed in the rear of this village, reaelied with their 
fire the Tillage and the plain in fropt of it. The 
Roesian position was an open plain. 

The enemy commenced by an attack opon the 
two roads from Wengrow and Kaloszy n ; and aa 
the attack was met with a strong resistance, he 
began to deploy upon the plain between the two 
roads, and to take order of battle. Nearly 30,000 
Russians, with fifty or sixty pieces of cannon (c), 
in a short time were seen upon that plain> and 
commenced a terrible fire of artillery and muKjnet* 
ry along their whole line, directed principally 
against the village and the wooded ground. Sev- 
eral battalions (a), in column, attempted an attack 
upon these points. Those attacks were witnessed 
by colonels Dombrowski and Boguslawski with 
perfect indifference. They even ordered our artil- 
lery not to fire. Our tirailleurs, and all the infan- 
try in that position, formed themselves into de- 
tached columns (k) of half battalions, and the Rus- 
sian columns approached. Our artillery then com- 
menced a fire of grape, and this fire was a signal for 
our columns, with the brave colonels Boguslawski 
and Dombrowski at their head, to leave their cover 
and to throw themselves upon the enemy. The 
4th regiment immortalized itself in that attack. 
One of its columns threw itself upon three of the 
enemy, — the fire ceased, and a terrible carnage at 
the point of the bayonet commenced. The enemy 
repeatedly renewed his attacking force, but he 
found it impossible to move our position. At about 



122 * THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 

mid-daj, haviog suffered so much from loss and ex- 
haustion, he discontinued the attack. General 
Skrzjnecki, profiting by the cessation of the ene- 
my's fire, took the opportunity to pass the Liwiec, 
and ordered a light fire of tirailleurs to he kept up, 
under cover of which his columns commenced exe- 
cuting the passage. When the greater part of the 
corps had passed, the tirailleurs began to make a 
retrograde movement, and were undisturbed by 
the enemy. Six squadrons of cavalry (e), left as a 
rear guard, protected the passage of the river by 
the light troops. In this manner the position was 
slowly evacuated, the bridge destroyed, and by 
about two o'clock the whole corps were on the 
march for Dobre. The six squadrons above named, 
to which were added nine pieces of light artillery 
(m), prevented for a long while the reconstruction 
of the bridge by the enemy, and did not quit their 
position until the corps was at a safe distance, 
after which they followed rapidly and overtook 
the corps at about four o'clock, and with it took 
position in order of battle near Dobre. 



BATTLE OF DOBRE. [See Plan Y.] 

The position of Dobre was more advantageous for 
us than the former. It was protected in front by 
two ponds of considerable size, which lost them- 
selves at their extremities in marshy ground. The 
only passage which led between these two ponds 



THE POLISH BXVOLUTION. 123 

was easy oi defence, and general Skrzjnecki post- 
ed upon it twelve pieces of artillery of large cal- 
ibre (a). The remaining part of this position was, 
like the former, covered with scattered clumps of 
brushkwood. The principal circumstance, how- 
ever, which made this position eligible, was the 
declivity of the ground, inclining towards the 
marshy ponds above mentioned. 

General Skrzjnecki collected all his cavalry 
upon bis right wing, to hinder the enemy from 
gaining the road that leads to Minsk (A). The 
left of his pointion (B) he laid open to the enemy. 
The position in that direction was surrounded by 
marshes, upon which, if the enemy should ad- 
vance, it would be impossible for him to extricate 
himself without being expoised to fight on the most 
disadvantageous terms. 

On this oblique front, general Skrzynecki await- 
ed the approach of the Russian force, in about 
half an hour after our position was taken, the ene- 
my arrived, and began to debouch between the 
two ponds, which he was allowed to do, under a 
very light fire of our artillery. Every manoeuvre, 
however, upon our right, was met with desperate 
charges of the bayonet, and the fire of our whole 
artillery. All his attempts in that quarter were 
ineffectual. In the repulses of these attacks, two 
of our bravest colonels, Boguslawski, commander of 
the 4th regiment of infantry, and Ziemiecki, com- 
mander of the 2d regiment of hulans, (the former 
fighting on foot with his carbine in his hand at the 



124 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 

head of bis regiment,) were severely w<iiiiided. 
At last, after these ineffectaal attempts on our 
right, the . enemy fell into the plans of general 
Skrzjnecki, and began to act on our left, when 
our commander hastened to take all the advantage 
of the situation in which the enemy were about to 
expose themselves, that the lateness of the day 
permitted. General Skrzynecki passed down the 
front of our line, and addressed the soldiers in a 
few animating words, to prepare them to make a 
general attack on the enemy. Our forces were 
divided into two parts, the smaller of which occu- 
pied, by their attack, the main body of the enemy, 
while the larger threw itself upon the enemy's 
right wing, which was at some distance from the 
rest of his forces, and was apparently intending 
to act on our right wing and to turn it. In a mo- 
ment this body of the enemy's force was com- 
pletely broken up. The fury of the attack was 
such, that some Russian battalions were entirely 
destroyed* It was only. the near approach of 
night, and the inadequacy of our force for a pur- 
suit, which saved the whole of the enemy's ccurps 
from destruction ; for his entire right wing took to 
flight, and a general consternation ensued. The 
enemy lost on that day, according to his own re- 
ports, more than 6,000 men, in killed, wounded, 
and prisoners On our side the loss amounted to 
about 800. 

Thus ended the memorable battle of Dobre. 
General Skrzynecki left his position, and arrived 



TH£ POLISH REVOLUTIOn. 126 

on the same night at Stanislawow. Marshal Die- 
bitsch and the Grand Duke Const amine were with 
the Russian forces, in person, on that day, accord- 
ing to the report of the prisoners. The former, 
to whom this commencement of the withering of 
bis laurels had led to a state of the greatest exas- 
peration, often led the columns in person to the 
fire — ^but all in vain. 

On the same day, as we have already remarked, 
our right wing was attacked at Minsk. The ene- 
my supposed that our main force was there, and 
it was for that reason that he chose to attack 
Dobre, being more confident of piercing our line 
at that point. The Russian corps under general 
Rosen, which attacked our right wing, satisfied 
themselves with keeping up a fire of artillery on 
Minsk, and the day passed without any attempt 
to force the position having been made. Oar 
troops were in the same position at night as in 
the morning, and nothing of importance occurred, 
although occasionally severe losses were sustained 
on both sides* 



16 



CHAPTER IX. 

Retrograde moTement of the 18th of Fcbniaqr.— Detaila of this tHotement, and 
of the actiona which took place — The army reachea the fieW of PragL— 4U 
reception at Waraaw.— PoaiUon of the array.— Battle of Warre and Bialolen- 

' ka.— Operations of general Dwernicki against the corpa of Prince Wirtem- 
barg.— Defeat of that corps by general Dwernicki at Swiersa.~Renewal of 
the enemy's attack on the main army on the !M)th.-*lts succeasfbl resistance. 
— RoTiew of the events of the preceding dsya.— £xamination ef Ae plaa of 
operatioiia of the Polish army. 

On the 18th, our whole line was ordered to make 
a retrograde ino?ement. [See Plan VI.] The 
utmost order and tranquillity was to be observed 
in this mo?ement. The several corps were re- 
quired to preserve a constant communication with 
each other, and to keep themselves uniformly on 
the same parallel. General Zimirski, commanding 
the right wing (A), and who remained on the 
main road, received orders to take advantage of 
every good position which he should meet with 
between Dembe-Wielkie (13) and Milosna (12). 
Three points in particular were recommended to 
his attention, Dembe-Wielkie, (14), and Mflosna. 
Nature presents at those points commanding posi- 
tions surrounded by forests. In each of those 
positions, the enemy would be exposed to the fire 
of our artillery, on debouching from the interven- 
ing forests ; and it was designed to make the at- 
tack of those positions as costly as possible to the 
enemv- 

The centre (B), which was commanded by gen- 
erals Skrzyueckj and Krukowiecki, was to retire 



VI. A 



/* no. 




\.' 



\ 



%i 



■wi 



' 



THC POLISH ftJBTOLUTIOlf* 127 

upon the road which leads from Stanislmwow (9) 
to Okuniew (II). Upon this wiodiog road, which 
traverses thick forests, the means of defence was 
easy. 

The left win;; (C), commanded by Szembek 
and Uminski, which was in the environs of Zegjz 
(4), received orders to gain Jabtonna (16), and 
Zombki (15), on the same night. The great bridge 
over the Narew at Zegrz was to be destroyed, and 
a small detachment to be left at Zagroby, for the 
purpose of observing the enemy. 

Conformably to the above orders, oar entire line 
commenced the evacuation of its position, and' an 
incessant fire was kept up throughout the line, 
during the whole day. In the morning, two squad- 
rons of light cavalry, which were sent from Minsk 
to Stanislawow, met a regiment of cossacks, who 
were making a reconnoisance, after having tra- 
versed th^ forest of Jakubow. The cavalry threw 
themselves upon them, dispersed them, and took 
two hundred prisoners with their horses. Upon 
the position of Dembo, our cavalry threw them- 
selves upon some Russian artillery which appeared 
upon our right, and were marching in a direction 
from Ruda. Six chests of ammunition were taken, 
and four pieces of cannon were spiked. At Stan- 
islaus, the 2d regiment of hulans and the 4th of 
the line performed prodigies of valor, throwing 
themselves continually upon superior masses of the 
enemy. The division of general Zimirski repelled 
two successive attacks from a superior force of the 



128 THE POLISH REVOLUTIOIf. 

enemy at Konik, upon the road between Dembe- 
Wielkie and Janowek. Twelve pieces of artillery, 
placed upon the elevated points of the road, poured 
an incessant fire of grape upon the masses which 
were advancing to the attack, and which were en- 
closed by forests on both sides, as well as imped- 
ed in their progress by the trees which had been 
placed across the road to obstruct them ; and, al- 
though the enemy constantly renewed his attack- 
ing columns, he was not able to force our position, 
which indeed was not evacuated, until the move- 
ment of. the general line required a corresponding 
withdrawal of this division. 

Our left-wing fought with equal advantages at 
Nasielsk. From this town, which was entirely in 
flames, the attacks of the enemy were repeatedly 
repulsed. Our artillery distinguished themselves 
by acts of daring valor. They drew their pieces 
into the midst of blazing streets, in order to pour 
a more effective fire u|K>n the masses of the enemy, 
who had entered at the opposite extremities. 

The first regiment of light infantry, having at 
their head the brave Szembek, threw themselves 
upon a part of the town occupied by a whole divi- 
sion of the enemy, and drove them out. Even 
in the midst of the burning town, our chasseurs 
fell upon and destroyed the different parties of the 
enemy. The enemy, on quitting the place, were 
exposed to continual attacks from our cavalry, un- 
der the command of general Uminski, who took 



THfi POLISH REVOLUTIOIf. 129 

cm that day some hundred prisoners, and among 
them several officers. 

Our right wing in its last position at Milosna 
(12), held the enemy in check before that town. 
General Zimirski placed his artillery upon the 
heights beyond the town, from which the town and 
the adjoining plain was comiaanded. Every at- 
tempt of the enemy, every debouchment from the 
forest, cost him a severe loss. The enemy in vain 
took positions with his artillery to act upon us. 
He was not permitted to occupy Milosna until 
night approached. 

At Okuniew, the road passes a marshy forest 
for more than half a mile. The enemy was im- 
prudent enough to push his columns upon this 
* road. General Skrzynecki awaited them at a 
point not far distant on the opposite side. The 
advanced guard of the enemy, imprudently com- 
posed of several regiments of cossack cavalry, had 
already passed the dyke, when the 4th regiment 
threw themselves in columns upon them. 

These forces of the enemy were thrown into 
the utmost consternation. Their only escape was 
into the marshes on either side, where some hun- 
dreds of them were taken prisoners without resist- 
ance. The arrival of the night terminated the 
scene, and saved this advanced guard of the ene- 
my from total destruction. Thus ended a sangui- 
nary day, on which, in every part of our line, oar 
troops were victoriops, and the enemy was sub- 
jected to immense losses. Our generals had made 



130 THE POLISH R£TOLUTION« 

the best choice of their positions, and had profited 
by them to the utmost. 

The enemy's loss on that day, in killed, wound- 
ed* and prisoners, amounted to at least 10,000 
men. On our side the loss did not exceed ],0^.* 



* I eaoDot paM orer this occasion of describing the manner ifi 
^hich the nation received that army, which had but a month 
before lefV the walls of Warsaw, and had, after so many glorioua 
actions, returned to give there a decisive battle to the enemy, mid 
to fall or conquer there before the eyes of the nation. Those were 
moments rare in history, and should be handed down to posterity, 
to demonstrate to what a height the feelings of the nation were 
exalted, and what a unanimity was felt in the great cause thai 
warmed all hearts. The thunder of the cannon which, during the 
15th, rolled over the fields of Milosna and Okuniew, was heard at 
Warsaw, and announced the approach of the army. At night- 
fall, when our first detachments began to show then^elvee from 
the forests of Milosna and Jablonna, and to deploy upon the plains « 
of Wavre and Bialolenka, the whole population of Warsaw began 
to leave the city, and go forth to meet and hail their defenders. 
The senate, whose estimable president, CzarCoriski, was with the 
army, left the city also. In a short time the fields were eoyered 
with an exulting multitude. When the army took its position, 
and all was quiet under the protection of night, the people drew 
near and entered the camp. What a touching scene was there 
presented! Here a father and a mother seek their son, who, 
meeting them, presses them to his bosom. There a wife, leading 
her children, finds her husband and their father, and throws hei<* 
self into his arras, while the children cling around the knees of 
their delighted parents. A melancholy contrast was presented by 
those who sought in vain for son — husband — parent. But no 
complaint was heard. The tears falling for those who were no 
more, were checked by the thought that they had died for their 
country. 

The senate, in the name of the nation, and in the most touching 
language, thanked the commander in chief and his ofiieers for the 
senrices which they had rendered to their country, and requested 
them to communicale these sentiments to the whole army. They 
finished their address in nearly the following terms: ** Preserve, 



rm POLISH RBroLUTioif. 131 

On the night of the 18th oar army took the 
foUowing position. [See Plan VI L] Our left 

brave compatriocs, tbi« Dobia energy, and in a abort time tbe tbroD« 
of despotism will fall, and upon its ruins civilization and public 
bappineas will rise." The people continued with the army, fur- 
nisbing them with every comfort, and regardletis of the fire wbicb 
waa eoinmenced the next day from the enemy's artillery. Under 
tb'ia fire, vehicles with provisions and anmiunition were continu- 
ally arriving from the city, and some of them were destroyed by 
the enemy** shot. During the actjons before Waraaw, tbe inha^ 
iMtants made it a duty to be at band, to bear off and succour tba 
wounded ; and among those who engaged in these offices wera 
some of the most distinguished ladies of Warsaw. The strangers 
who were then there, and who witnessed the enthusiasm wbicb 
animated the people, and seemed to unite them into one family , 
exclaimed that such a nation could never, and ought never be 
conquered. 

Tbe following days, tbe tlst, find, and ttrd of Februaiy, im 
which DO action took place, were devoted to thanksgiving to Ood, 
for his favor in protecting the Polish cause thus far. In all the 
efaarcbes the people assembled to offer prayers for tbe welfare of 
tbe oountry ; and tbe army employed this period of repose in tbe 
•arae manner. On that field, <^er which tbe three hundred can- 
non of the enemy were pointed in battle array ; while the first line 
was in position, the rest of the army were engaged in these devo- 
tiooal exercises. At each assemblage of troops, tbe ministers of 
religion administered patriotic oaths, and animated tbe soldiers te 
perseverance in the holy struggle. Those sacred ceremonies were 
followed by hymns, which were song along the whole line, and 
wbicb, mingling with the solenm sounds of the bells of Warsaw 
tolling for tbe assembly of the people in tbe cborcbes, prodoced an 
indescribably impressive effect. These exercises ended in tbe 
general shoot of " Poland forever t" 

Te convince tbe Russians that the Poles were not blindly flgb^ 
ing against them as Eussians, but for that cause of civilisation an4 
happiness wbicb was of equal moment to themselves, several 
bandred white flags were prepared with inscriptions in tbe Rn^ 
sian language, in terms such as follows: " Rvsi^ansl brelber Sev<« 
matians I we march to combat not as your enemies, bat to fight fbr 
your welfiure as well as our own.** Each regiment reoebred from 



132 TH£ POLISH REVOLUTION. 

wing was between Jablonna (16) and Zombki 
(15), and sent out its reconnoissances as far as 
Zagroby (4), upon the Narew (N), the bridge 
over which at that place was destroyed. Our 
centre was between Okuniew (11) and Zombki 
(16). Our right wing was at Wavre (17). 

After two such bloody days, as the preceding 
had been for the Russians, we cannot sufficiently 
express our astonishment that marshal Diebitsch 
should have allowed his army no repose, but should 
have again pushed his attack, without any new 
plan, on the 19th and 20th. These operations W 
Diebitsch, without an assignable end, indicated z 
blind confidence in numbers, or the headlong furj 
of a man inflamed by the renown which he had 
acquired, and who was determined to make the 
event bear out as nearly as possible, whatever 
sacrifice it might cost, the rash boast which he is 
said to have made, that ne would finish the war 



ten to twenty of those flags, which, during the combat, were to be 
distribnted among the tiraiUeurs and flankers. They were dir«0ted 
to throw them, as occasion might ofler^ among the Russian ranks. 
Many of those yolunteers, in rushing forward to plant those flags 
among the Russian skirmishers, met their death at the hands of 
those whom they wished to save from tyranny. Thus the Poles 
had done all that their duty required of them in this holy contest, 
to convince the world that the general cause of dvilization and 
happiness was the great end of their struggle. They sought not 
their own aggrandizement by conquests Mhi the territ<Ny of 
another nation, for their ancient boundaries are wide enough for 
them. They fought for that liberty which they had for ages pos- 
sessed ; and that ancient liberty and those ancient limits they will 
sooner or later regain. 



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THS POUIU aiTOLOTION. 133 

ID tweoty-foar hours. But he ncrificed hia thou- 
sands in vain. 

On the 19tb an action took place not oolj with 

the grand army under the walli of Warsaw, or on 

the fields of Fraga, but also od the left bank of 

' the Vistula at Swierza [(7) PL VI.], fortj miles' 

from Warsaw, where geaeral Dwemicki beat 

;, who, as we bare alreadj men- 

tbe Vistula at Pulawa [(6) PL 

racbing Warsaw [(1) PL Vi.]. 



US AND BULOLENKA. [PL mi 
md IX.] 

day, apCHi every point, the right 
nd the left wing, our line was 
attacked. We might remark in regard to the po- 
sitions of the two armies on that day, that our 
rigbt wiog, (A) which was at Warre, was UDpro- 
tected, while on the other hand the l«A wiog (C) ' 
of the enemy, opposite to it, was very advantage- 
ously placed on heights covered with wood, be- 
tween Milosna and Wavre. Our centre (B) was 
better posted at Kawcnzyn. It occupied this 
Tillage, (whfbh was in a commanding position,) 
and the declivity descending from it to the plain 
of Zombki. Our left wing at Biablenka was also 
advantageously covered by little wooded bills, 
having two dyVes in front leading toward them. 

The Russians on that day directed their strong- 
est attack upon our right wing, which occupied the 
17 



134 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 

weakest position. With the view of carrying this 
position, they sent against it some forty battalions 
of infantry and some thirty squadrons of cavalry, 
supported by seventy pieces of artillery. Our po- 
sition was defended by a division of about ten bat- 
talions of infantry and fifteen squadrons of arlilfery, 
supported by twenty-four pieces of artillery. This 
enormous disproportion did not discourage our sol- 
diers. Their energy supplied the place of nnm- 
bers. The enemy commenced his attack by a 
warm fire of light troops and a fire from his artil- 
lery, which commanded the plain. The skilful 
manoeuvres of general Zimirski, in displaying \ns 
front, contracting it, dividing it into small parties* 
and withdrawing or advancing, as the direction of 
the enemy^s artillery required, and thus avoiding 
the effect of his fire, prevented the loss which it 
would else have occasioned. In this way several 
hours were occupied, when the enemy, trusting to 
the impression which he supposed his fire to have 
made, at about ten o'clock sent forward twelve or 
more battalions (D) to the charge. General Zim- 
irski, anticipating this movement, withdrew, in or- 
der to lead them on to the plain between Wavre 
' and Grokow, sending to general Skrzynecki an 
^ aid-de-camp to inform him of this manoeuvre, and 
to engage him to send a force of cavalry to act 
upon the enemy's columns in flank;^ General Skr- 
zynecki, who occupied, as we have stated, the 
heights of Kawenzyn, was also warmly engaged 
with a brigade of the enemy, and had already ob- 



TH£ POLIfH RSVOLUTION* 135 

seiT^ this imprudent advance of the eoemy in bis 
attack) who had indeed gone beyond the line of 
Skrzynecki's position* In a moment the order 
was given for the brigade of general Kicki to throw 
themselves upon the enemy's flank ; and as gene- 
ral Kicki approached with the ten squadrons (E) 
which composed his command, general Zimirski 
gave orders for a general charge both upon the 
enemy's cavalrj (F) and infantry (D). The col- 
umns of the enemy were carried away before these 
charges^ and their attack was wholly paralyzed. 
This onset, which was so successfully made, forced 
the enemy (H) to incline his position back from 
Kawenzyn to Miloana. That manoeuvre was deci- 
sive q( the enemy's fate, and it was well under- 
stood by our generals* General Skrzynecki^ by 
pushing forward the left of his division, cut off the 
right wing of the enemy from all communication 
with his centre, and at about mid-day our right 
wing and centre occupied their former position at 
Wavre, including the small forest of elders which 
was between the enemy's left wing and centre ; 
and, in fact, general Skrzyneeki occupied a part 
also of the Great Forest. This state of things was 
to be profited by, and the right wing of the enemy, 
thus separated, was to be attacked before the ene- 
my should be able to renew his attack upon Ka- 
wenzyn, and the forest of elders, and our right 
wing. To execute this plan, the two divisions of 
Xrukowiecki and Szembek, composing our left 
wing, which was fighting at Bialplenka, ^See Plan 



136 THB POLISH EBTOLUTION. 

IX*] received orders to push a strong attack agaiost 
the enemy's front, at the same moment that a brig- 
ade (fi) of Skrzynecki's division, supported by 
some pieces of cannon, operated upon the road (a) 
leading from Kawenzyn (6) to Zombki (k). By 
this manoeuvre the enemy was menaced with being 
taken in the rear. 

The left wing, as we have said, was waiinly 
engaged with the superior force of the Russians ; 
who, by placing some fifty pieces of cannon (f) 
behind the two dykes (e) above named, kept up a 
sweeping fire of grape upon our artillery (d) and 
infantry (c), which were defending the passage of 
the dykes, A considerable body of the enemy had 
already reached the hither side of the dykes, when 
general Ujninski, with a brigade of cavalry (D), 
advanced to the charge, and at the same time com* 
municated the orders to the two divisions to com* 
mence the general attack. Under a warm fire of 
grape, our cavalry threw themselves upon the ene- 
my's infantry, which had debouched over the 
dykes. A general charge commenced, and our 
cavalry penetrated the enemy's masses. The 2nd 
and 3rd regiments of chasseurs distinguished them- 
. selves by their feats of bravery. The enemy was 
repulsed, and began to fall back and crowd upon 
the dykes, and at this moment their route was ef- 
fected. A brigade (B) from genefal Skrzynecki's 
division arrived, and commenced. a fire of grape 
upon the dykes, over which the enemy was flying 
{n the greatest disorder. Their ranks were in the 



THS POLISH RSTOLUTIOlf. 1S7 

Utmost confusion ; they crowded with precipitatton 
npon the dykes, exposed i^ontinually to our destruc- 
tive fire. By this repulse the whole of the en^ 
mj's right wiug was broken, and they copinienced 
a general retreat, leaving a great number of pris- 
oners, who ' either had not reached the dykes or 
could not get from them, amounting to perhaps a 
thousand men, bendes another thousand killed and 
wounded. The enemy also lost two standards, 
four pieces of cannon, several chests of ammunition, 
and many horses. 

In this manner ended the attack upon that wing j 
and indeed the general attack might be said to 
have ended here. Towards night the enemy re- 
newed his attacks upon our oentre and right, but 
tbey were feeble. Thus closed another day, 
which, like the preceding, was most propitious to 
our arms. 



BATTLE AT SWIERZA. [aeePUmX.] 

Qn this same day, as we have mentioned, gene- 
ral Dwemicki, with a detached corps, fought the 
enemy at Swierza. The reader is already aware 
that this general, having gained a victory over the 
corps of general Kreutz at Stoczek [Plan VI. 
(18)], on the 14th of February, received orders to 
pass the Vis^la^ in order to defend the palatinate 
of Maeovie, to eheck the operations of the enemy 
there, and to obstruct his demonstrations upon 
Warsaw. 



IS8 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 

On receiving this order, general Dwemicki, cm 
the night of the same day, quitted- Stoczek, tra- 
il^rsed Zelecbovv (19) and Macieiowice, and on the 
17th passed the Vistula near Ryczywol (7). On 
the 18th he commenced his operations against the 
corps of prince Wirtemberg, which was on its way 
from Hadom, and the advanced guard of which 
begun to show itself upon the plain of Ryczy woL* 



• The prince Wirtemberg, who commanded the corps agahist 
which general Dwernicki was sent, had served in the Polish army 
as brigadier-general. He was cousin to the present king of Wir- 
^mberg, and nephew of the late Emperor Alexander, who mamed 
his aunt This prince commanded the S&l and 4th regiment of 
hnlans, of the first of which regiments general Dwernicki wti 
eoloneL In this way the prin«e was perfectly well known to gen- 
eral D wemicki. tfid was held by him in very low esteem, as a man 
of vanity and pretension, and a tyrant over his subalterns. The 
vices of his charftcter developed themselves qufficiently doring 
our revolution. At the breaking out of the fe^olution at Warsaw, 
this man was at Krasny-staw, a small town in the palatinate of 
Lublin, in which his brigade was posted. On the arrival of the 
news of the revolution, his first care was to secrete himself. After- 
wards, finding that it was impossible to keep concealed, he began 
to tamper with the brigade, and tried to persuade his soldiers to 
adhere to the service of the Grand Duke, and to refUse to join the 
cause of their country. These false persuasions, coming from 
him, a general in the JPolish service, in open defiance of the will 
of the nation, and in opposition to its holiest efibrts, afforded a suf- 
ficient ground of accusation against him, to have brought him to 
judgment as a traitor. Besides all this, by his tyrannic conduct as a 
general, he had deserved severe treatn^ent. But all these ofiences 
were forgotten, and the nation spared him, merely ordering him to 
quit the country. He exhibited his gratitude for this delioate treat- 
ment, by departing fbr Russia and the Polish provinces, and point- 
ing out for arrest some of the most respectable citizens, who were 
known for their patriotic sentiments. He passed several days at 
Wlodawa, a small frontier town between the Polish kin^iom and 



THE POLISH REVQLUTIOIf. 139 

General Dwernicki harassed the enemj on that 
day [iSec Plan X.] by continual charges of cavalry, 
in which the Krakus of Krakowie were particularly 
distinguished. His only plan upon that day was 
to keep the enemy upon the plain of Ryczywoh 
During the night he intended to pass, with the 
chief part of his force, the river Radomierza above 
Ryezywol (/), and by this course to present hina- 



tfae goFerament of Grodno. There he was guilty of the mean act 
of iocerceptiog the correspondence between the different patriotic 
iDdividaals. 

This was not enough. In the campaign, he took the command 
of a Russian corps destined to act in the very palatinate of Lublin 
where he had held his Polish command for fourteen years, and 
where all the proprietors had treated him with the greatest kind- 
ness and delicacy. Arriving there with his corps, iie led at every 
step the traces of his tyranny. On reaching Pulawa, the .estate of 
the beloved Czartoriski, the president of the national government, ' 
the residence of that family from which he had himself received so 
maoiy kindnesses, and in which every virtue reigned, he did not 
scruple to give orders to bum the town ; — he did not scruple to 
take the name in history of <' the devastator of Pulawa"— of that 
beautiful spot on which the labor of ages had been expended, and 
-which was so celebrated for the charms with which nature as well 
as art had enriched it. His cruelties were carried to such a height, 
tbat he actoiilly caused to be beaten with the knout, a young lady, 
a friend of the princess Czartoriski, who had manifested her patri- 
otic sentiments by the sacrifice of her jewels to aid the cause of 
her country. Even the princess Czartoriski, who was already at 
an advanced age, was not spared the insults of this gross man, who, 
to put the finishing stroke to bis barbarity, on his second visit to 
Pulawa, directed a fire of artillery upon the palace, which he knew 
was occupied only Af the princess and her ladies. Even the Rus- 
sians themselves r^arded these actions with abhorrence. In re- 
gard to his military talents, they were of the lowest order. Gen- 
eral Dwernicki promised that in a few weeks he would despatch 
him ; and he in fact kept this promise to the letter. 



140 THB POLISH REVOLUTION. 

self to the eoeaiy upon the road which leads firom 
Radom to Ryczy wol, the same road io fact upoa 
^btch the eoeaiy had advanced, and attack him 
both on his flank and rear, the Vistula being on 
his front. In executing this movement, general 
Dwernicki left two squadrons of cavalry (A), one 
battalion of infantry (A), and two pieces of can^ 
non, at the side of the river, under the command 
of colonel Russyian. He then quietly left his po- 
sition, and crossed the river in its fordable places 
(/) about half a league above. Colonel Russyian, 
who as we have said remained on the position a# 
Ryczy wol, was ordered to commeuce a light fire 
of skirmishers at break of day, but to retrograde 
constantly, and to allow the enemy an easy pas- 
sage over «the bridge. On the 19th, the enemy 
' (D), who had^ no suspicions of the manoeuvre, 
commenced in the morning his debouchment upon 
the bridge, having the expectation of engaging with 
our whole force in a decisive battle upon the field 
of Ryczy wol. His astonishment may be imagined, 
when, as the day commenced, he found both upon 
his flank and his rear a force marching against 
him to the attack (B). The enemy stopped pass- 
ing the bridge, and attempted to turn and meet 
the attack, but this was not permitted him. Our 
cavalry threw themselves with impetuosity upon 
that part of his forces which wqe^ attempting to 
place themselves in position ; and our artillery, 
which was boldly brought near the enemy's col- 
umns, poured a terribly destructive fire of grape 



THS POLISH RXrOLUXlOII. 141 

apon them. The utuioat consteroatioii ensued, 
and a general and disorderly flight was commenced 
in the direction of Nowa-wies (N), to which plac^ 
our corps continued the pursuit of the enemy (R). 

This day, which may be called one of the most 
brilliant in our war, cost the enemy, besides his 
killed and wounded, two thousand prisoners, with 
more than twenty officers, four standards, ten 
pieces of cannon, some hundred horses, and about 
tAirty chests with ammunition, with oflkers' bag- 
gage, &c. The prince Wirtemberg with the re* 
nains of his corps retreated by forced marches to 
the small town of Granfoa, where he repassed the 
Vistula and reached Pulawa. Thus, by a singU 
battle, the whole country on this aide of the Vis- 
tula was cleared of the presence of the enemy. 

General Dwernicki permitted to his corps, who 

were really much exhausted by fighting and march* 

ing, to repose by a slow march as far as Kozie- 

nice, where he remained stationary, sending out, 

'however, his reconnoissances as far as Pulawa. 

On the 20th of February our main army was 
engaged with the enemy the whole day upon th« 
same position as on the preceding. This repetition 
of his attack, without a change of plan or position, 
was a great weakness in the enemy. On that 
day, feeling sensibly the loss of a part of the great 
forest opposite tl^Lawenzyn, as well as that of the 
small forest of elders, the enemy commenced his 
attack upon those points. Som^ twenty battalions 
were incessantly pushed forward to the attack^ 

18 ^ 



142 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 

against which eight battalions on our part kept an 
eflectual stand for several hours. This day, al- 
though uninteresting and indecisive in manoeuvres, 
was bloody. No important blow was attempted 
by us, but every attack of the enemy was met with 
a vigorous and sanguinary repulse. It was a day 
of glory for the 4th regiment — the day on which 
that cejebrated regiment, though already distin- 
guished, began to take its high place in our re- 
ports ; and on which it fought with a degree of 
valor that could never.have been surpassed. . Wicfr- 
out even waiting for orders, this brave regioieol 
was seen constantly pushing itself towards \Vie 
points of the greatest danger ; and its companies 
were often fighting singly in the very midst of the 
thickest masses of the enemy. 
. By the unsuccessful and costly attacks of the 
enemy the whole day was occupied, and at its 
close, after the loss of thous^ands of men, he had 
not gained a foot of ground. 

Thus ten days had passed in continual and 
bloody actions upon the same position, during 
which the Polish army had been uniformly suc- 
cessful, and at the end of which the- enemy discon- 
tinued his attacks, thus giving the most convincing 
proof of the extent of the losses he had suffered 
on all points, during that period, amounting, in fact, 
in killed, wounded and prisoners,, to full 30,000 
men. In this space of ten days, the whole Russian 
army had been engaged, and that army amounted, 
as we have already said, and as will be confirmed 



^ 



THK POLISH RSVOLUTIOlf. 143 

• 

by all the ofiicial peports^ to more than 150,000 
infantry, 50,000 cavalry, and 300 pieces of canoon. 
To this force was opposed a handful, compar^ 
tively, of Poles, consisting of 30,000 infantry, 
12,000 cavalry, and 96 pieces of cannon ; a sixth 
part, in fact, of the Russian force. 

This memorable commencement of our war will 
show to the world what can be effected by a na- 
tion fighting in defence of its liberty and to throw 
off an oppressive yoke. Those bloody combats, 
and that enthusiasm, to which my feeble pen can- 
not render justice, but which some better historian 
will present to the world in their true colors, should 
convince men that the immense mercenary forces 
whM^h a despot may lead on-, and by which he 
trusts to enforce his will, may avail* him little. 
His enormous masses are like a heap of sand, 
which a little stone can pierce. Without anima* 
ting motives, and therefore without energy, — a 
machine scarcely to be trusted, — that army itself, 
upon the slightest change of circumstances, may 
become terrible to the despot, of whom and of 
whose creatures it was to have been made the 
unhappy sacrifice. 

The reader will pardon me, if I fatigue him with 
further reflections upon this stage of our affairs. 
I shall not exaggerate in saying that this enor- 
mous mass of the enemy's forces would in an equal 
period have been absolutely annihilated, if we had 
then had a commander in chief of greater talent, 
and a general plan of operation differently arranged| 



144 TSB PO£I8B BETaLOTlOM. 

-—for the different operations in detail t^re^ gener- 
ally speaking, |)erfectlj executed. The commaml- 
Mf m chief, prince Radzivil, was an individual of 
the most estimable character, but as he afterwards 
himself avowed, not possessed of military talest. 
General Cblopicki, who was always near him, and 
who in fact virtually commanded* if he had in the 
early part of 4iis life exhibited military talent, in 
his present advanced age had certainly lost nracb 
of his energy, and was unfit to andertake things 
which demanded the most active intellect, and the 
most absolute devotedness of mind and body to 
the cause. We cannot too strongly express ont 
astonishment, that general Chlopicki, who had 
formed the plan, and a very judicious one it was, 
of. drawing the enemy on to the walls of Warsaw, 
to give him there a decisive battle, shouM have 
Beglected to fortify the natural positions upon his 
route, by which the enemy's loss would have been 
doubled or even trebled. Serock and Zagroby 
(4), [See Plan VI.], situated upon points of the 
greatest importance, especially the first, were 
evacuated by our forces, for the want of proper 
defences. Not the slightest fortification was con- 
structed at the different passages of the Narew 
(N), the Bug (B), the Liewiec (L), and the Swi- 
der (S), nor upon the region between those rivers, 
which was full of forests and impenetrable marshes, 
and in which proper fortifications would have pre- 
sented the most important obstructions to the ene- 
my's passage. No concealed passages or by-roadt 



4lr 



tm POLISH RRVOLUTtON. 14& 

timmgh those forests were constructed, u tbejr 
shoald haye been, bj which a body of troops couM 
be led in ambuscade and brought to *act suddeni|^ 
on the enemy's flanks or otherwise, in critical 
moments, and with decisive effect. Such works 
would have required but little expense, and could 
have been made by the Jewish inhabitants, of 
whom there are some millions in Poland, (twenty 
thousand in Warsaw alone,) and who could have 
no clnims for exemption, for they render no serricc 
to the country, but on the contrary lead a life of 
profitable fraud and deception, practised upon 
the inhabitants. The Jews, indeed, with some 
very few exceptions, did not in the least aid in the 
war, but often frustrated our exertions by their 
espionage ; and there are in fact instances of their 
haying fought against us,-— against those who had 
given them an asylum upon their soil. In the 
towns of Nasielsk and Makow this occurred. This 
part of our population, who had an equal interest 
with us in the protection of the country, as far as 
prc^erty was concerned, could have been thus em- 
ployed with perfect justice and propriety. If, by 
such arrangements, a system of fortification had 
been properly united with tactics, and all the plans 
directed by a man of talents and energy, of which 
e^tam'ples were certainly to be found in our ranks, 
with such troops to command, the reader will ad- 
mit that the Russian forces could have been soon 
.driven back to the frontiers. 

The succession of victories which we have de- 



# 



146 THE POLISH RETOLUTION. 

scribed were not the results of any general system : 
— they were victories of detail, executed i^ith 
4pcrgy and rapidity, and for which we were in- 
debted to the generals of divisions and brigftdes, 
the colonels of regiments, &c. These successes 
were isolated, but, had they been made to bear 
upon each other, their advantages would have been 
much greater. For example, the battle of Dobre, 
which was so brriliantly gained by. Skrzynecki, 
would have caused the total ruin of the corps op- 
posed to him, if the 11th division of Krukowiecki, 
which was in the environs of Jadow, had come to 
the aid of Skrzynecki during that action. And 
indeed this was the expectation of Skrzynecki 
when he remained so long upon the position of 
Makowiec. But this division, instead of acting 
upon the rear of the enemy, as it might have done, 
having no orders to this effect, continued its retro- 
grade 'march, although within the sound of the 
cannon of that action. 

On the 18th there was not enough of harmony 
in the operations of the several divisions. On that 
day, if those operations had been directed from 
one point as from a centre, the enemy, who had 
been goilty of extreme imprudence in the advance 
which he had made into the marshy and wooded 
region between Stanislawow (9), Okuniew (11), 
and the great road, could have been completely 
hedged in. ISee Plan VI.] The m^oeiivres of 
general Zimirski, when the enemy made his rapic^ 
attack on the morning of the 19th, were executed 



»4P 



THC POLISH IICTOLUTIOIV. 147 

at hazard, no general order having been given in 
anticipation of such an attack. These manoeuvres 
were well executed by general Zimirski : but i£ 
the case had beeji thus anticipated by the com- 
niander in chief, and, at the commencement of the 
action, our right wing had been withdrawn to 
Groihow, \Ste (A) Plan VIII.] an obstinate de- 
fence of the commanding position of Kawenzyn 
(B) being kept up, and the enemy had been thus 
alloived to follow our right wing with his left; 
by the same method of operation which was in fact 
executed by Skrzynecki and Zimirski, in concert, 
but with much larger forces ; the enemy could 
have been attacked on his flank, and instead of 
the annihilation of his sixteen battalions, the same 
^site would have attended twice or thrice that 
number ; — for, when a force is taken by surprise 
in flank and rear, numbers avail comparatively 
little in resistance ; — indeed^ the greater the num- 
ber, the gr^atej is the difficulty of changing posi- 
tion, and the greater the disorder and consterna- 
tion which follows. 

The Russian army was thus early inspired with 
terror at the resistance which it had experienced, 
and the immense losses to which it had been sub- 
jected. It was of the utmost importance to profit 
by this consternation ; but the vast advantages 
which might have been gained under such cir- 
cumstanices, by some general plan of offensive op- 
^erations of bold and decisive character, were let 
pass. 



CHAPTER X. 

ProeeedingB of the Actional GoTernment.— Manbal DiebHseli contiB«es Id t 
■tate of iDactivity. — Negotiations are opened by him. — His propositions ar» 
declined. — Position of the army on the 24th, and battle of Bialolenka. — Posi- 
tion on the 25tb. — Great battle of Grochow. — Details.— State of the RossiaB 
army afler its defeat. — Examination of the plan of the battle of Grochow.— 
Remarks upon the coarse adopted by prince Kadzivil afler that victory. — 
The Perish army crosses the Vistula to Warsaw.— Its reception by the b^ 
tional government and the citizens. — ^Resignation of prince RadziviL 

Whilst the army was thus gloriously fighting, the 
national government were laboring for the happi- 
ness of the people. Among other valuable inst/ru- 
tions, it adopted a paternal guardianship over iVit 
defenders of the country by designating an allot- 
ment of lands for each soldier. Many of the most 
wealthy families contributed of their landed prop- 
erty for that object. Another act was to free the 
peasantry from the Corvee, by purchasing the rights 
of the landholders over them. Each peasant was 
made a proprietor, and for the landholders an ar- 
rangement of compensation in the form of annual 
instalments for a period of years, was made by the 
government. Other institutions for the public 
welfare, as the establishment of schools, &c. re* 
ceived also the attention of the government. 

When, after so many battles, the Russian con^- 
mander discontinued his attacks, it may be sup- 
posed that besides the repose which his army re- 
quired, he had another object, viz. to wait the 
arrival of new corps, consisting of 20,000 men^ 
and 36 pieces of cannon, under prince Sczachow^ 



THE POLISH RXVOLUTIOlf. 149 

a 

ski He evidently wished to concentrate all his 
small detachments and all his reserves, in order to 
strike, with his whole force, a decisive blow ; and 
the attempt was, in fact, soon Inade. 

Our army, which in the ten preceding days had 
lost about six thousand men, was reinforced by 
three regiments armed with pitchforks, amounting 
to about the number we had lost. Our whole 
army, infantry and cavalry, may have amounted to 
40jOOO men, and, with the pieces taken from the 
enemy f 100 cannon.-^The Russian army, with the 
new corps of Sczachowski, amounted to 188,000 
men and 316 pieces of cannon, deducting the artil- 
lery which had been lost or dismounted. 

Marshal Diebitsch, before commencing hostile 
operations, opened negotiations, and, for this pur- 
pose, sent a general of division, Witt, with a flag 
of truce to our head-quarters. This general was 
stopped at our advanced post, whither general 
Krukowiecki was sent by the commander in chief, 
with full powers, to meet him. General Witt 
commenced with expressions of the greatest sensi- 
bility, and enlarged much upon the friendship which 
ought to exist between the Poles and the Russians 
as brother nations. He then spoke in very flatter- 
ing terms of the heroism of the Poles, lamienting 
that it was not displayed in a better cause. After 
much complimentary language he insensibly passed 
to the ideas of duty and obedience to the monarch. 
General Krukowiecki, who understood perfectly 
well all these professions, which he knew to be in- 

19 



* 



4 
t 



IdO THs rohinn rbyolvtioii. 

sidious, answered nearly in tbe following laconic 
terms : ^^ General, after tbe sad circumstances 
which have taken place, after the Uoodj combats 
to which we have been forced bj the tyranny of 
fifteen years^ by the refusal of justice, mid in fiae 
by the violation of our frontier, and tbe laying 
waste of our territory, — upon this territory we can 
make no arrangements. You know well what are 
the frontiers of Poland* Upon the banks of tbe 
Dnieper, four hundred miles hence, we may enter 
into negotiations*'' 

Thus all was ready for the sanguinary battle of 
two days, which followed, and one memorable in 
the annals of war* It commenced by a combat on 
tbe 24th at Bialolenka, and ended on the 2dth on 
tbe plain of Grochow. 



POSITION ON THE d4tii, AND BATTLE OF VULO- 

L^NKA. 

The position, of the two armies, on the 24tb, 
was as follows. The Polish army occupied tbe 
tame ground as when they ceased firing on the 
20th; but the force was disposed in a different 
manner. The right wing was reinforced by the 
division of general Szembek ; and although Bialo- 
lenka, Kawenzyn, and Wavre composed the line of 
combatt there was this difference, that, while be- 
fore, the centre was at Kawenzyn, and the left 
wing at Bialolenka, at present tbe left wing was 
at Kawenzyn; the forces whicb were at fiialo- 



^% 



THK POU&H RlTOUrriOH. 161 

UnakB were posted as a detached corpsi and the 

centre of the army was at the forest of elders* 

The right wing occupied the space between the 

great road and the marshes of the Vistula, called 

the marshes of GUxlaw. This arrangement made 

our line more concentrated. The first division 

under Krukowiecki, which was at Bialolenka, 

with the division of cavalrj under Uminski, was 

directed to observe the great road from Jablonnai 

and ail the roads leading from Radzimia and 

Zombki to Warsaw. Between Kawenzjn and 

Bialolenka the debouchment of the enemj was 

prevented by extensive marshes. 

The Russian army was upon the same points as 
on the 20th. Their greatest force was opposed to 
our right wing at Wavre. * 

On the afternoon. of the 24th, the enemy at- 
tacked with impetuosity the first division at Bialo* 
lenka. The corps of the enemy which made this 
attack was that of the prince Sczachowski, which 
had recently joined the main army, and for which 
marshal Diebitsch was supposed to have waited. 
This corps, as was afterwards ascertained, had 
missed their road, and became unintentionally en* 
gaged with our forces on that day. The orders of 
that corps were to traverse the forests between 
Radeimin and Zombki, and to join the army with- 
out being observed by our forces. It was ^e false 
direction which they took that brought on the en- 
gagement at Bialolenka. 



\ 



•J 



1a. . 



162 THE POLISH REYOLVTlinX* 

This battle consisted, like the former actions at 
this place, of an attempt by the enemy to force the 
passage of the dykes, which were defended on our 
side by about eight battalions, protected by some 
wenty pieces of cannon. This small force re- 
pulsed the enemy in three successive attacks upon 
the dykes. At about 6, P. M. another Russian 
corps, under general Pahlen, came to the succor of 
Sczachowski, and as the first corps attempted to 
pass the road leading from Radzimin, the latter 
attempted to force the passage of the two dykes 
leading from Zombki, and at both points under the 
cover of a terrible fire of artillery. If the reader 
will consider that our small force, consisting o( 
only eight battalions, and fifteen squadrons, stood 
their ground against two Russian corps of nearly 
40,000 men and 60 pieces of cannon, the eflforts 
which were made on that day may be appreciated. 
Our plan of action consisted chiefly in allowing a 
part of the enemy's forces to pass the dykes, and 
then falling upon and cutting them up by succes- 
sive charges of cavalry and infantry, supported by 
an effective fire of artillery. By such efforts this 
handful of brave men repulsed the attwks of the 
enemy until night, when his attacks ceased. At 
the approach of night, general Krukowiecki sent 
small reconnoitering parties upon the roads from 
Radzimin and Zombki. These patrols, pushing as 
far as, and even beyond Zombki, saw nothing of 
the enemy, and in fact learnt, to their astonish- 
ment, from the marauders whom they took, that 



J 









THE POIJSH RETOLUTION. 153 

the two Russian corps had quitted their position, 
and were on their march across the forest of Ka- 
wenzyn, to join the main army. This sudden 
withdrawal of the enemy's corps was an indication 
that they had received orders to join the grand 
army, and that a general attack was in contem- 
pAation £or the next day. In expectation of this 
attack, a body of men was sent, during the night, 
to obstruct, by defences, jthe three roads leading 
from Kadzimin and Zombki. Small detachments 
were left on those roads, and the forces which 
were at Bialolenka quitted their position, to rein- 
force the larger corps upon the plain of Wavre. 

The following was the position of the two ar- 
mies on the 25th, the day of the memorable battle 
of Grocbow. \_See Plans XL and XII.] The Rus- 
sian army was distributed into eight divisions of 
combatants, and three divisions of reserves. Those 
eight divisions consisted of 126,000 infantry (a), 
42,000 cavalry (6), and 280 pieces of cannon (c). 
The three divisions* of reserve (E) were composed 
of 16,000 infantry, 4,000 cavalry, and 32 pieces 
of cannon. This enormous force, which occupied 
the space between Kawenzyn (A) and the marshes 
Goclaw (B), a distance of about* three English 
miles, was arranged in two lines of combatants 
(C, P), and a third of reserve. Their position was 
as follows : Their left wing was between vVavre 
(r) and the above marshes of the Vistula, and was 
composed of four diviisions of infantry, of 47,000 
men, four divisions of cavalry, 15,700, and 120 



164 THE POLISH REVOLUTIOlf^ 

pieces of cannon. The centre, opposite the forest 
of elders, consisted also of four divisions of infantry 
of 67,000 men, three of cavalry of 10,500 men, and 
108 pieces of cannon. The right wing, opposite 
the village of Kawenzjn, consisted of three and 
a half divisions of infantry of 31,000 men, four 
divisions of cavalry of 16,760 men, and 62 pieces 
of cannon. Upon the borders of the great forest 
opposite the forest of efders, was placed the re- 
serve, commanded by the Grand Duke Constantine. 
Against this force our inconsiderable army was 
posted in the following manner. The right wiag 
(G), formed by the division of Szembek, covftttt- 
ing of about 7,000 infantry (rf), and 24 pieces ot 
cannon (y), occupied the space between the road 
and the marshes above mentioned. The centre 
(H) occupied the forest of elders, and touched 
upon the great road. It was^ composed of two 
divisions commanded, by Skrzynecki and Zimirski, 
composed of about 16,000 infantry {d), and 60 
pieces of cannon (/). The left wing (T) occu- 
pied Kawenzyn, consisting of the first division, 
commanded by Krakowiecki, composed of 6,600 
men (rf), and 12 pieces of cannon (f). Four di- 
visions of cavalry (g), consisting of 9,600 men, 
commanded by Uminski, Lubinski, Skarzynski, and 
Jankowski, were not posted on any fixed point, but 
stood in readiness to act wherever occasions might 
ofibr. Besides these, was a small reserve (K) of 
four battalions and eight sqcmdrons, in all abo«t 
6,400 men, under the command of general Pae. 



THE POLISH REVOLUTION* ^165 

BATTLE OF GROCHOW. 

On the 25th, at break of day, the fire com- 
menced oo our left wing, on the position of Kaw- 
enzyn. The enemy pushed forward all the forces 
which were collected on his right wing, and com- 
menced a terrible fire of artillery and musquetry, 
with the apparent detc^rmination to carry our wing 
by a single overpowering effort. Nearly fifty 
pieces of artillery opened their fire upon Kawenzyn, 
and numerous column^ of infantry, under the pro- 
tection of this fire, pressed forward to carry the 
position. But our forces prepared to meet the at- 
tack. Small as they were, consisting only of sev- 
en battalions, with twelve pieces of cannon, they 
had formed the determination to die or conquer 
upon that ground. They could hope for no succor, 
ibr the whole line was in expectation of a general 
attack. 

The brave generals Krukowiecki and Malaehow- 
ski made every effort to sustain the perseverance 
of their troops, and each of them, at the head of 
their columns, and on foot, threw themselves upon 
the enemy's ranks. Our artillery did not answer 
that of the Russians, but directed its fire of grape 
wholly upon the columns which were approaching. 
By the unparalleled bravery of our wing, of which 
every soldier seemed to have formed the resolu- 
tion to fall rather than yield a foot of ground, this 
tremendous attack of the enemy was sustained 
for several hoars, till at last he was obliged to 
slacken it. 



n 



156 TH£ POLISH REVOLDTIOn. 

During the whole ofnhis attack upon our left 
wing, the centre and the right remained still in 
their positions, awaiting the expected attack. It. 
was near ten o'clock when the fields of Wavre 
became, as it were, in one moment, covered with 
the forces of the enemy, which issued out of the 
cover of the forests overhanging the plain. Look- 
ing over that plain, between the forest of elders 
and the Vistula, one would have thought it was an 
undivided mass of troops which was in motion; 
for in that comparatively limited space, the eje 
could not distinguish the difiereut divisions from 
each other. 

Two hundred pieces of cannon, posted upon 
that plain, in a single line, commenced a fire whicb 
made the earth tremble, and which was more ter* 
rible than tho- oldest officers had ever witnessed* 
After having prolonged for some time this tremen- 
dous fire of artillery, the enemy made ait attempt 
to carry our right wing ; but in a moment all our 
cavalry were collected there, and fell upon and 
overthrew his columns, and his efforts were as 
fruitless here, as they bad been against our left. 

Having been unsuccessful in these two attacks on 
the wings, and hoping that he had weakened our 
line by the terrible fire of artillery, which he con- 
stantly kept up, the Russian commander collected 
the greater part of his forces opposite the forest of 
elders, and it was there that an attack was com- 
menced wkich presented a scene unheard of in the 
annals of war. It could with more propriety be 



TBI POLISH RSTOI^TIOK. 157 

cdled a massacre of aearljr four hours duratioii. 

The Russians brought toget(ier at this point omm 

hundred and twenty pieces of cannon, posted in 

the rear and on the sides of that forest. Some 

fifty battalions, were incessantly pushed to the 

attack, with the new to get possenion of that 

forest. Had they been able to effect this, they 

would have divided our army into two parts, and 

thus could not but have ensured its destruction. 

It was the consideration of this important fact 

which prompted the horrible attack, and the 

desperate reustance which it met. The braye 

Skrzynecki, Zimirski, Boguslawski, Czysewski, 

and Rholand, defended this forest with fourteen 

battalions, whose admirably executed manoeuvres, 

the change of front, the arrangement of the attack 

in columns and escalon, the concentration of force 

upon the points in which the enemy's line seemed 

to waver, a fire which was never lost, but was 

always reserved for the closest approach of the 

enemy — all were executed with an activity, order 

and coolness never surpassed, h was only by 

such conduct -that the tremendous attack of the 

eneaiy could have been sustained for four hours, 

and that, after having nine times gained possession 

of the forest, he was as often repulsed with an 

iaamcMe loss. 

Like the infantry, our artillery performed prodi* 
gies. All the batteries, protected by cavalry which 
never abandoned themi pushed themselves in adr 
vance even of the line of the skirmishers, and ap* 

20 • 



168 TH£ POLISH RETOLOTlOq. 

proached sometimes within a hundred feet of the 
enemy's columns, in qrder to give their fire witk 
the most infallible execution. The battery of the 
brave colonel Pientka, which defended the border 
of the forest, was ao far advanced that it was 
sometimes surrounded by the enemy, who, in his 
own disorder, did not become aware of the adran- 
tage. All the different operations, indeed, of our 
artillery in this battle were truly admirable. Bat- 
teries, now concentrated upon one point, were io a 
moment hurried to another and distant one, where 
the enemy was wholly unprepared for them, aod 
was thrown into disorder by their sudden attack. 
In the early part of the afternoon, when the ene- 
nty, after having been several times repulsed, re* 
newed his attack with the greatest determination, 
and our 2d division began to give way, the four 
batteries of artill#ry of the brave Adamski, Mas- 
lowski, Hilderbrand, and Bielak, in coMert with 
that of colonel Pientka, advanced like cavalry to 
the charge, and, approaching close to the Russiao 
columns, opened a fire of grape, which spread de- 
struction and disorder in their ranks. - Our infantry, 
thus animated to the contest, rallied, and threw 
themselves again upon the enemy, who then yiekl- 
ed before them. 

Like the artillery and infantry, our cavalry, be- 
sides the different chaises which they executed 
with so much bravery, was manoeuvred with the 
utmost skill by our generals, and was made to 
fill the voids occasioned by the mferiority of ow 



XHX POL18H REVOLUTION. 150 

ioTceSj so as always tb present to the enemy an 
unbroken iine. « 

By such manoeuvres of the three arms, executed 

with the greatest determination, in which evetj 

commander performed his duty to the utmost, the 

enemy^s ]plans were continually disorganised, and 

his enormous force, which at first flight would have 

been supposed capaUe^* have ah^lutely crushed 

the small army opposed to it, was in effect only a 

great mass, making a continual oscillation, and 

which seemed to trust to do every thing by a ter- 

lible fine of artillery, which was always kept up, 

whether necessary or not. 

Thus it was that fifty battalions of the enemy, 
amounting to over 40,000 men, supported by 1^0 
pieces of artillery, in a concentrated attack upon 
one point, the forest of elders, the decisive point 
of the position, were nine times repulsed from 
that foreat, which was left literally covered with 
their dead. 

From eleven o'clock until three, these attacks 
continued through the whole line, (the most power- 
ful being in the centre), and the destruction of life 
was immense. At the last named hour, our gen- 
erals, each of whom we may remark had had their 
horses shot under them, and several of whom were 
severely wounded, formed the plan of giving the 
enemy a decisive blow. Their plan was to with- 
draw from the fire the 2d and dd divisions, which 
had sufiered most, and to make a general retro- 
grade movement in such a form as to have the 



160 THE POLISH REVOLUTIOl^ 

wings considerably in advance of the centre, wWch 
was to be drawn backus far as the Obelisk of Iron 
(ife), at which there was a position more command- 
ing. This plan had the following objects r The 
first was, to draw the enemy upon the open plain ; 
the second was, to concentrate our force still more 
and to place it in two lines, the inner cmc to be 
composed of the whole . of the 2d and a part of 
the 3d division, which were withdrawn for repose. 
A third object was, to lead the enemy to believe 
that a retrograde movement was forced opoB m 
by our losses, and that we felt ourselves too weak 
to continue the defence of the forest. 

To execute this mancEUvre, and to • enaUe the 
23 division to retire without being molested, the 
artillery was left with some ^twenty squadrons <d 
cavalry to protect the retrograde movement. This 
artillery and cavalry were ordered afterwards to 
evacuate their positions gradually, and the former 
to take post in the centre uiider the protection of 
the whc4e of the cavalry, which were in escalon, 
and prepared for a general attack. The manceuvre 
was as admirably executed as it was conceived. 
The enemy had no suspicion of its object, but, 
presuming it to be a flight, undertook to profit by 
it. It was at this moment that marshal Diebitscfa, 
as if sure of victory, saw himself already at War- 
saw, and, on the field of battle, he ^allowed these 
words to escape him : " Well, then, it appears that 
after this bloody day, I shall take tea in the Bd- 
videre palace." 



rmm 9M.%nm RXTOLvnaii. 161 

■ 

It was at aboat three P. M. that oar 2d diriskNi, 
ia coaformitj with the plgn adopted, began to 
retire by an es€%lon moreiaent. To hasten the 
execution of this Qiprement, it was ordered that 
the ccdumns, retiring in successioa, on reaching a 
considerable distance from the enemy, should 
qaWken their* pace as they proceeded, in order to 
forai tbe second line as soon as possible, and to give 
apace for the operations of the artillery and caval- 
ry. It was at this nxHneat that general Zimirski, 
who had lost sev^^ horses ynder him, and had 
JQst placed himself upon a fresh horse, to super- 
intend this movement, was struck with a twelve 
peoad ball in the left shouMer , which carried away 
fais arai, and caused his death in a few hoars.^— 
The mekincfaoly loss of this general was most 
deeply felt by the whole army, and particularly by 
his own division, but it did not interfere with the 
executiqli of these orders. The brave general 
Czyaewski immediately took command of the 
division, and continued the orderly movement of 
the divi»on towards the rear, and he received 
great support from generals Rohland and Zaluski. 
As soon as the- last columns of this force quitted 
the forest, [See Plan XII.] the Russian troops 
began to debouch from it, and our artillery com- 
menced a terrible fire. The brave colonel Pientka, 
who was still far in advance, checked the de^ 
bouchement from the forest near him. Seated, 
with tlie most perfect sangfroid upon a disabled 
piece of artillery, thb brave officer directed an 



162 THE POLISH RBVOLUTlOl^. 

unremitting fire from his battery. The artttlery 
and cavalry, after havjing protected the retrograde 
movement of the centre, still continued to keep 
their ground, to enable the ^ings also to retire 
undisturbed. All our forces were then in Do^ve- 
ment, and the enemy pressed on. The RussiaB^ 
columns had already advanced beyond the positioi 
of colonel Pientka, but that brave' officer still kept 
up the defence.* By this time, however, the 2d 
division had already reached their destined post* 
tion, aiHl their batt^ons had commenced fomiing>^ 
Such was the state of things, when, hetween 
Kawenzyn and the forest, a cloud of R^stam 
cavalry were seen advancing to the attack, bamg 
aft their head five regiments of heavy cuirassiers ; 
a force in fact of some forty squadrons, or between 



^ Admirable as was the conduct of all our artillery, every man in 
which deserved a decoration, yet among this artillery, the battery 
of colonel Pientka must be distinguished. Without yielding a step 
of ground, that battery held its place for &ve hours,* and it often 
happened during the battle, that this single battery was left expos- 
ed alone to the fire of thirty or forty of the enemy's pieces. It 
was computed that this battery alone caused a gpreater kwa to die 
enemy than the entire loss that his whole artillery caused in our 
ranks ; and I do not exaggerate in saying, that the fire, chiefly of 
grape, which Pientka kept up for &ve hours, and at the distance 
often of a few hundred pac^s only, 'must have cost the Rusnaos 
from one to two thousand men. What is most remarkable, this 
battefy itself, during the whole of the fire, did not lose more than 
one officer add six men killed, six wounded, and ten or twelve 
horses, two of which .were killed under colonel Pieatka, wbose 
clothes were pierced through and through with grape, and his 
casque torn in pieces, while, as if providentially preserved, his 
person was not in tl|^ slightest degree injuf«d. 



; t 



TBC POLISB KEVOLUTIOIf. 163 

eight and nine thousand in all. Colonel Pientka, 
with his artillery, supported only by a single regi- 
ment of Mazurs, ^ still held his post, to give yet 
another effective fire upon this advancing cavalry, 
which was already between him and Skrzynecki's 
division ; and then, to save himself from being cut 
off, he quitted at full gallop a post which he had 
i>ccopied for five hours under the terrible fire of 
the artillery of the enemy. This rapid movement 
of Pientka's battery and the regiment of cavalry 
which attended him, animat^the Russian cuiras- 
skrs in their advance, and the infantry and artil- 
lery of the enemy followed their cavalry. At this 
jsiomant Chlopicki was wounded by a grenade, 
and the army was without a head ;' but genersfts 
Skrzynecki and Czyzewski had already, formed 
their divbions into squares, and awaited the attack 
of the enemy. 

The jitl>ssian cavalry advanced upon the trot, 
and came in a direction perpendicular to tbe line 
of oar battery of rockets, which was posted be- 
tween tbe 2d and 3d divisions (A). Suddenly a 
discharge from this battery was poured into their 
ranks, and enveloped them with fiame and noise. 
Their horses, galled to madness by the flakes of 
fire which were showered over them, became 
wholly ungovernable, and, breaking away from all 
control, spread disorder in every direction. The 
enemy's ranks were soon in the most utter confu- 
sion, and in a sl^t time this enormous body of 
cavalry became one disordered mass, sweeping 



164 THE POLISH RCTOUJTieilt 

along towards the fire of oar sqoares* In a verj 
few minutes that cavalrj was almost annihilated. 
So nearly complete, in fact, was their destructioiiy 
that of a regiment of cuirassiers, which was at tkm 
head of the attacking force, called the regiment of 
Albert, and which also bore the designaticHi fof the 
^^ Invincible" inscribed upon their helmets, not a 
man escaped. The few who were not left dead 
upon the field were taken prisoners. In fact, 
some hundred horse of that regiment were whirled 
along through the ^ptervals of our squoi^es, aod 
were left to be taken prisoners at leisure. Tke 
wrecks of this routed cavalry, closely porsnad bf 
our lancers, carried along in their flight tke edir 
umns of infantry which were following them, and a 
general retreat of all the enemy's ibrces conoMnc- 
ed. The battle was gained. The cry of *^ Poland 
forever!" arose along our line, and reaped the 
walls of Warsaw, to cheer the hearts of i|s anxious 
inhabitants. Nothing was wanting but at skilfnl 
commander in chief to our forces, to have insured 
the entire destrnction of the Russian army. 

Two thousand [wisoners, among them twenty 
officers of difierent ^grades, five pieces of cannon, 
and upwards of a thousand horses, wete the tro- 
phies of that immortal day, the memory of which 
will be forever terrible to tyrants. 

It w|is nearly five P. M. when the Rossian mnmj 
commenced a general flight, and even evacnnted 
its first position, which it had oc#ipied in the early 
morning. It ii to be regwtted thait the okUr lo 



ivx pousii n»roLim«ar« 165 

know u|» the parsuit mm waatmg. Saembek 

aiose tlvew himself, at tines, with his divinon, 

fjDong the JEUissian nnks, Mid took a greet duki-> 

bee pneoi^rs, baggage aad chests of ammunition. 

Acoordiii^ to tile decburation of general Saembeki 

if, duriag the • retreat of the enemy, a charge of 

eaYakry and artttlery bad been ordered between the 

left wing and the centre of the enemy, a great 

part (P) of that wingy which was considerably ^- 

tached from the centre, would have been cut off. 

This eoold have been easily ^one, for no part of 

oar little resenre was brought into action during 

the day, and they were eager to be permitted to 

make the charge. 

The prince Radzivil, after the withdrawal of 
general Chfepicki from the army in consequence 
of Us woaflid^ found himself witboat council ; and 
not feeling himself sufficiently capable to risk any 
bold maniBinrce; seeing too that the army was 
much exhaosted by the fighting of that day and 
the preceding ; and fearing also that the Vistula 
might become impassable, aad the bridges be en* 
daagered by the melting of the ice ; in fine, being 
nnwiUing to take opoo himsatf the great responsi- 
bility of attempting to pursue his adv»itages, de* 
eided to give the army an interval of repose, and to 
occupy the time in reorganizing it. 

Some further details,* and remarks opon this 
important battle may not be unacceptable to the 
reader. 1st. In lltgard to position: On examin- 
ing mtically the posiliqpi ^ the PoKsh army, we 

21 



166 THK P0148H RKTOMITIOV^ 

notice sQpe great faults. The right wing was 
upon a plain entirely uncorered, and exposed to 
the commaoding fire of the enemy's artillerj. AU 
the talents of the brave Saembek were rehired to 
prevent this wing from being unprofitablj sacri- 
ficed. This same wing, if it had been withdrawn 
a thousand paces further to the rear, in soefa a 
manner as not to have leant on the marshes of the 
Vistula, but have occupied the small wooded hills 
on the right of the main road, and on a line with 
the village of Groc^w, would have been then id a 
commanding position, and safe from the (reniea- 
dous fire of the enemjr^ The enemy would ftoha- 
bly have then occupied the plain, and thus beea 
disadvantageously exposed to our fire. His lo^ 
would have been doubled, and all the charges of 
our cavalry and infantry would have been much 
more effective. But what was above all unpar- 
donable, was that, with a full knowledge of the 
enemy's intention to attack us, together with** a 
consciousness of our own inferiority of finrce, and 
the nature of our position, which was wanting in 
strength, no fortifications whatever were erected, 
although four days a«d five nights were passed in 
that position, during which the national guard of 
Warsaw, and all the unenrolled population, who 
would have cheerfully volunteered for the purpose, 
could have been employed in the- construction of 
works to any desired extent. 

In Tegard to the centre, we lAty remark, that it 
was indeed covered by the forest of elders, of 



THS POUaa BKVOLOTION. 167 

wbich h occupied a part, but the attack of this 
forest by tbe enemy was thus made necessary, and 
their repulse cost us too great sacrifices. But be- 
sides the sacrifices which the support of such a 
position required, our troops were so incessantly 
occupied with repulse of the successive attacks of 
the enemy, x\ax it was impossible to attempt any 
decisive mancBuvre. It was not there, in fact, as 
wie have seen, that the battle was decided, but at 
the Obelisk of hen, and by other means. The 
centre, like the right wing, sbtald have been with- 
drawn so fer as to have been on a line with the 
village of Grochow, and in such a manner as to 
profit by all the commanding positions between 
Targowek and Grochow, upon which our artillery 
(which, as the case was, were upon a low and 
exposed position opposite the forest), would have 
been very advantageously posted. In general, our 
whole position Was too extendeH, reaching from 
K!awenzyu to the marshes of the Vistula at Go- 
claw. It ought to have been from the beginning 
more concentrated, and supported on the outermost 
circumvaHatibns of Praga (B). It could thus have 
profited by the advantageous {Positions which adjoin 
those defences. In consequence of this too great 
extent of position, our forces remained in a single 
line for five hours in succession, in itiost dangerous 
exposure. 

In regard to the evolutions, although the details 
were admirably executed, it is to be remarked that 
the left wing did not yield a sufficient support to 



168 THE POUSH REVOLCTIOK. 

the other bodies. The ownmunicatioiis witli thmt 
wing were aot well sustained— -another efiect of 
the too great extent of the position. The li»c of 
the enemy was encumbered with artillery, and 
there were favoraWe moments for a general attack 
on that artillery by our cavalry. Such opportiioi- 
ties were perceived by our generals of cavalry, and 
the attack suggested by them to the commaider ia 
chief, but nothing was done. The greatest faak 
of all, however, and that which perhaps saved the 
Russian army froor entire destruction, was Ae 
neglect to follow up the enemy in his retreat, aod 
by a judicious manoeuvre to cut off his right iragi 
as was perfectly practicable ; — by such a maiKEU- 
vre, as it will be seen was, in fact, afterwards suc- 
cessfully practised by Skrzynecki at Wavre, where 
a great part of that same force were taken pris- 

' oners. 

The battle of tSrochowcost the enemy in killed, 
lyounded, and prisoners, according to the reports 
published by the Russians themselves, 2O/X)0 
men. On our side the loss amounted to 6,000. 
But to give the reader an idea of the terrible £re 
of that day, it may be remarked that there was not 
a single general or staff officer, who had not bis 
horse killed or wounded under him. FuU two 
thirds of the officers, and perhaps the same pro- 
portion of the soldiers, had their clothes pier<^ 
with balls, and more than a tenth part of the army 
were slightly wounded, though not unfitted for 
service. In this battle the 2d and 3d divicdous of 



THS POU8H BSVOLUTIOIC l€f 

iflfkntry snffeMl tbe jnost^ and twtiil|r of Am 
officers weie MortaUj wouocMI with grape^slKrt. 
I would not deaim to present a revolting picMre of 
tbe horrors of a battle-field, yet to i mp r ess upon 
the reader how great a scoarge tyranny is to man- 
kind, I could wish to poiot out to him, along the 
whole road from Kawencyn to tbe marshes of Gro- 
claw, hillocks of dead at every step, especially in 
the forest of elders, where rank upon rank vras 
seen prostrate upod the earth. Indeed, so strewed 
vvith bodies was this forest that it received from 
that day the name of the forest of the dead.^ 
With the twilight, our whole army began to 

* Up to ttie lOtii of Mavefay when a reommousaBce was mat^ wm 
Hr 8« the plain of Warre, the dead were not yet latarrad, and all ' 
the ooaAMieB of « hattlenield remaiaed, prornif that 4m enemy 
was too DNlcfa ocetipied to giTO.the erdinary atteoitl^n to these du- 
ties. On that day sereral wagons filed witti Russian enirassien 
were sent to Warsaw. Many ndned oaissons of ammnoitkNi, 
many gun-eanriages, three deserted eaanens, and several hvndrei 
carbines, sabres, and pistols, knapsadn, and hehnels hi c oa sk l ora 
ble nundbers were stirewed OTsr Ae field, and indieated tbe disorder 
in which the' eaemy had made his r msw i t To prswnt in efk- 
dsmical nMdady, onr goTemment wade a reqnest to g ea ossi 
Diebilsch to send « body of his dmb to aid in the intennent of the < 

dead, which was in fhct done. 

Contemplating these masses of Rnsiiasi dead, the viotiros of « 
horrible despotism, wlMtf reflections were awa|wnedl ThMise nn* 
fortonate men were dragged to the combat to be saortficed. Not 
one of tint mass of Tktims could see the jostiee of the oanse ibr 
which they were thus saerifieed. What eonsolatkin'ooald tiwre 
be in the last agonies of saffi^ring incorred in soch a caused There 
conldbenone* How diffhrent mnst have been tbe death of the Po- 
lish soldier, who felt the sacredness and importance of the struggle 
on which he had eolered. His last moments were consoled wWi 
the thought that his lifh was sacriilced-fcr the good of his covotiy. 
If the deaths of the Russian and tlie Polish soldier were thus (ttffer- 



170 tun POLISH RSVOLUTIOlt. 

eFacmteAheir posttioO) and to cross the Vistula to 
Warsaw. The passage of the river occupied the 
whole night. On the morning of the next day, all 

ent, their lives are not less so. What reward awaits the RossiaB 
soldier ? Is it a service of twenty-five years under the terror of the 
knout, in which service he most generally dies, or if he survives, 
as too Duieh broken down to be able to gain a subsisteoce afier- 
wards? The Russian soldier, besides the fatigues of the general 
service, b subject to a private service under any one of his superi- 
ors, the merest subaltern perhaps, who, far from rewarding hun 
for sueh services, abuses him but the more freely. The full pay 
of a Russian soldier is a groat a day ; and even out of this Ikde 
pay his superiors exact a profit. The consequence is, tbMt the 
degree of his nusery is exeepdve, and he would be in c tfrwui iy if 
Ike psoprision of land where he is quartered did not sueesK ttm. 
What other recompense is given to these wretched men, who ue 
thus led to the sacrifice of their lives for the self-will of a despot, 
who, while the soldier, covered with wounds, is groaning undK 
his sufifiMlngs, spends his time in luxurious enjoyment, and perhaps 
mocks at the al^ectness of men who are thus willing iastnunenti 
of his pleasure? What other recompense for all this? Perhaps 
to this soldier is given a medal of brass, which, if has commander 
in a OMment of good humor, as he passes down the line, may have 
addressed him with the tide of '' Staryk" or '< oki soldier," he 
receives as a t<^en of his having been through a campaign. Com- 
pare this with the recooipense whieh awaited the Polish sokfier 
on his return firom the campaign. He was received by his ooon- 
4 , tiymen with the warmest demonstrations of joy. Bfothens hfied 

their children in their arms, and pointed him out to them as one 
of the defenders of their country. No 4mzieQr for the future 
weighed upon him, for his country had made ample provision for 
him. It was at his will to remain in the service, or to go to ooeapy 
Che land designated for him by the national government. He 
woold find^there all that his wants might require. Remaining in 
the military service, he enjoyed the respect of those about him. 
AH were his brothers, and the greatest delicacy of intercourse was 
observed between «him and his superiors. His service was an 
agreeable duty, in which, besides gaining an honorable subsist- 
ence, he received each day some new mark of friendship and 
esteem. 



THS POLIfiS R£VOL0TIOK. 171 

that remained o( oar forces upon the right bank, 
were two battalions of infantrj, and thirty-six 
pieces of cannon, which were at the bridge-head 
of Fraga. The Russians were well satisfied with 
our passage of the Vistula^ for thej felt the need 
of repose. It was at first presamed that in a few 
days tbe enemy would storm Praga. This, how- 
eyer, was soon foond not to be their intention ; 
and, for what cause we cannot conjecture, they 
continued in a state of complete inaction. 

Such then was the end of the grand operation 
of marshal Diebitsch, with his colossal forces, by 
which it was his purpose to put an end to the 
war in a few days ! The boasted Grosser of the 
Balkan, with from 180,000 to 200,000 men, and 
316 pieces of cannon, was not only unable t<» crush, 
as he proposed to do, an army of scarcely 40,000 
men and 100 cannon, but was beaten by that 
spiall army, and only escaped a total ruin from the 
absence of a competent leader to the Polish forces. 
Such facts, so rare in history, cannot be too fre- 
quently impressed upon the mind of the reader, 
and they should be held up to the view of every 
despot, to teach him upon what a frail foundation 
his confidence in numbers may rest, and to convince 
him that his masses must melt away and be dis- 
persed, before a people, who, on their own soil, 
are resolved to throw off* the yoke of despotism, and 
who fight for liberty with the energy of despair.* 

* The courage of our fbrces that day, was no itoobt much ani- 
mated by ihe Tichiity of Warsaw, for the battle was fought within 



172 IBS POU&B IU&?Oi.UTlO0. 

The nattoaani the army oocupbd ihift mter¥al 
of repose in giTuig thanka to Provklence for the 



i^i^ 



view of the inhabitaDts, who covered the fields about Pfaga. 
Many of the oquipagM of the wealthy ^UBiliea atcteoded to i«- 
ceive the weuoded fron the field of batUe, aad all the inlwJwtaintP, 
without distinction of rank, pressed forward to remove and succor 
them. Those of the wounded who could not be led to the car- 
riages, warn carried in liie vtoi ef the citizens^ and anong tfaost 
who performed this offise, were the highest mem))en of thenatiMi> 
al government, ministers of religion, and even ladies. How theo 
could such an attachment of the nation to her defenders, fiul to be 
Miswered by as ontbusiasm in her defence which knenr- no hooods. 
The wounded sokUers^ in order not to draw upon this tumpettg^^ 
conquered their sufferings, and stifled their groans ; andtocbsi^ 
the tears of those who bore them, they even fbrced themidnt to 
raiae the patriotic sheut, And sing the natianal hyuo. 

To the details liliiatratiDg the courage which was disftefti 
upon that fields I may add the following : — In one of the attadcs 
«poD th^fbrest of elders, when the enemy had gained^ posaearion 
of h, there w«e oq iot#rrupti^ik to our advaooe from ai dteh which 
had been cut across the road> and which it was neoesaary to pass. 
The Russian artillery, observing the effect of this obstrucrion, 
poured a heavy fire of grape upon the spot to add to the conAi- 
sioB. Lieatenaat Czayloowaki, who eoanpsaaded a plataau of 
grenadiers of the 7th regiment, in the attacking columns, hai 
passed with his platoon this small ditch, when he received a grape 
shot in the leg, which threw 'Mm down. As he fbfl, he cried, 
<< 6renadier% advanced' and oontlnaed thfe cry> mgardtoai of lis 
sufierings, as he lay prostrate on the ground. Those brave gren- 
adiers, animated by this noble spirit, pushed their attack with such 
ftory that they drove the eaetny from faia position. 

Our artillery, which had so bravely fought, and whieh^ haA to 
answer the terrible fire of the numerous artillery of the enemy^ as 
Well as to check the strong attacks of the Russian columns, were 
•biged afteit to change their ptace, ta aeDOantmIe, amd fBaperae, 
as occasion required, tt was in one of thase^ evohitiobSi that a 
battery, posted near that commanded by captain Hilderbrand, was 
required to change its position^ The bombardier KoaenKlaid 
waa sent to give orders to this efbet. He was on hia w«y t* 



THB POLISH REVOLUTION. 178 

successes of the preceding day. In all the churches 
Te Deums were sung, as well as in the chapels 
of the camp near Warsaw. The army was re- 
ceived by the people with solemnities. The sen- 
ate, accompanied by the inhabitants, repaired to 
the camp, where patriotic addresses were delivered, 
and a public fete given to the army. For three 
successive nights, Warsaw was illuminated, and 
the inscription ^^ To the defenders of their Coun- 
try," was every where seen. Unequal to the de- 
scription of these moments of exultation of a peo- 
ple animated with the recovery of their freedom, 
I can only say that they were moments which will 
live forever in the heart of every Pole, and will 



cute Mb commission, when a ball carried away his arm. That 
brare roan, however, cootinaed hjs way, thus eeverely wounded, 
reached the battery, executed his commission, and then fell from 
the loss of blood. 

The following incidents of this battle-field deserve to be men- 
tioned, as indicating how little of national animosity mingled with 
the feeUngs of the combatants. It was often seen that the wound- 
ed soldiers of the hostile forces who happened to be thrown in 
each other's vicinity, would drag themselves towards each other 
for mutual relief, and engage in friendly conversation. " Why," 
would a Polish soldier say to the Russian, '* why are we shedding 
each other's blood ? The cause for which we have taken arms is 
that of your happiness, as well as our own." The Russian sol- 
dier could only answer, with tears of shame, ** We have been driven 
to march against you." No stronger example could be given, 
of the kindest dispositions of the Poles towards the Russians, than 
the treatment of the latter in our hospitals. They were nursed 
and fed, like our own wounded, by the hands of those benevolent 
and patriotic females who had devoted themselves to these holy 
duties. On leaving those hospitals, the Russian soldiers swore 
never to forget the kindness they had experienced. 

22 



174 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 

satisfy biin that a nation so united will be always 
capable of great efforts* 

On the day after the religious ceremonies, the 
provisional government met in the . National (for- 
merly the Royal) Palace, where all the general 
officers of the army were also assembled to delib- 
erate upon the measures to be adopted both in 
regard to military and civil affairs* It was on that 
occasion that the prince Michael Radzivil, actu- 
ated by the noblest impulses, and having a simgle 
view to the good of his country, abdicatacf lAe 
chief command, surrendering his trust into the 
hasds of the national government, with the a^ofiai 
that he did not feel himself sufficiently capable to 
continue to hold so responsible a post. This step, 
wbich showed a great elevation of character, im- 
pressed the nation with feelings of gratitude, and 
has given to prince Radzivil a name in history* 



CHAPTER XI. 

PAiMge of the VMtola to Warsaw. — ^Diapotition of the PoUah forcet on iti left 

bank. — Appoitttment of general John Skrxynecki to the chief command. — 

PreclamatioB^-4^roBpt attenlioB it gif en to the reorganisatioa of the tnaj, 

the arsenals and maimfaciories of arms, the fortificatioM, ite. — Deportment 

of the commander In chief towards the army. — General eathosiann of the 

BaUon.— The patriotic offers of the PoUih women.— New regulations eelah- 

lisbed for conferring orders of merit— Disorderly state of the Russian army. — 

• AttimpC of Diebitsch to bribe the Polish soldieiyw-^Geaeral view of the ett- 

eoarsgiAg circomstances of this epoch.— ^Tbe ins«rrectioB in RoiBia nnder 

Vermolow. — View of the state of the Polish forces when general Skrsynecki 

leefc Am chief cOMmand.— He p rees ea the orgaalnaon ef the new fboeea^^ 

Their distribntion and that of the general forces.— Poeitione of the Polish 

army and the detached cofps.— RoMian petition. 

After the memorable battle of Grocbow^ fought on 
the 25lh of February, before the walls of Warsaw, 
a daj 00 which we had defeated a force thre^ 
times superior to our own, the prince Radzivil 
made the passage of the Vistula to Warsaw and 
the left bank. The objects which he had ia view 
in that movement we have already detailed. Twa 
battalions of infantry, with thirty^six pieces of 
artillery, were left to defend the fortifications of 
Praga, on the right bank of the Vistula opposite to 
and separated by a bridge from Warsaw, and 
which were in the form of a horn-work, supported 
on each wing by the river. 

The army was disposed in the following man- 
ner upon the left bank. The cavalry were posted 
in positions a few miles above and below Warsaw. 
The infantry and the artillery were either coocen- 
tiated lA Warsaw, or.were encamped near the city. 



176 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 

Upon receiving the resignation of prince Radzivil, 
the national government proceeded to the choice 
of his successor, and on the 27th of Februarj, 
1831 9 elected, by an unanimous voice, to the chief 
command of all the national forces, the hero of 
Dobre, general John Skrzjmecki, a man of the 
inost devoted patriotism, of great decision of char- 
acter, and uncommon military talent. He was, 
above all, eminently possessed of that rapidity of 
coup deceit J that capacity of seizing conjuncture^ 
which enabled him, in the midst of the most com- 
plicated movements, to perceive, and instant/y to 
proQt by, every advantage which offered \\sAi. 
This general was, in the time of the Russian gov- 
ernment, and at the commencement of our revolu- 
tion, colonel of the 8th regiment of infantry of the 
line, a regiment^ by which he was regarded with 
an almost filial attachment. On the enrollment 
of new forces, after the revolution had taken place, 
he was made general of brigade. In the month 
of January, before the commencement of the cam- 
paign, he was advanced to the rank of general of 9, 
division, and the command of the 3d division of 
infantry was confided to him, at the head of which 
division, as the reader already knows, he gained 
laurels in several brilliant actions. 

On the 27th, at mid-day, proclamsftion was 
made of the abdication of the prince Radzivil, and 
the appointment of general Skrzynecki, as com- 
mander in chief of the army. The nation, to 
whom the great merit of this officer was already 



THB POLlSa RKTOLUTIOK. 177 

80 well known, received this annnnciation with 
the greatest satisfaction* No dissentient voice 
was beard* Even the oldest generals in the ser- 
vice warmlj applauded > the choice* General 
Skrzjnecki, on receiving the chief command, ad- 
dressed to the army, on the 28th of February, the 
following proclamation :— *- 

*< Soldiers and brethren ! God has willed that, 
through jour choice, I should be made the instru- 
ment of his providence in the important trust to 
which I have been designated* The Senate, the 
Chamber of Deputies, and the National Govern- 
ment have honored me with a difficult task, which 
I cannot worthily execute, but as your valor and 
constancy shall second me* Soldiers ! we have 
before us an enemy, proud of his former suc- 
cesses, of his strength in numbers, and of the 
influence which he exercises in Europe. But 
if, in one point of view, his power appears for- 
midable, on the other hand, the outrages with 
which the Russian government have oppressed us, 
render that enemy so guilty in the eyes of God 
and of man, that, full of confidence in providence 
and the sacredness of our cause, we can boldly 
measure our strength with them* We have only to 
swear in our hearts that we will be faithful to that 
motto which we so often repeat, " To conquer or 
die for our country," and we shall surely serve as 
an example, in the annals of the world, of encour- 
agement to the defenders of the sacred rights of 



178 XHS POLISH RSYOIiUTIOM. 

tha people. If we do not succeed hi conquefiog 
our powerful enemy, we will not live to submit to 
him — to him who has violated, . in regard to us, 
every obligation of good faith. There is enough 
of glory in the sacrifice which I call on you to 
make ; and in this heroic career, and so full of 
danger, 1 offer you crowns of laurel. We shall be 
sure to gain them, if you will support me by your 
valor, your union, your subordination, and your 
promptitude in performing the orders which will 
be given you." 

The first object upon which the attention q( the 
general in chief was fixed, was the state of ^ 
army. Even from the first hour of his investiture 
with the chief command, prompt and energetic 
orders and instructions were issued, to form new 
forces, to complete those which were already in a 
state of formation, and to fill up the ranks of Che 
regiments which had suffered in the late engage- 
ments* During the dictatorship of Chlopicki, and 
under the command of the prince Radzivil, all the 
arrangements of the military administration were 
sli^gishly attended to, as the reader is well aware. 
At the time of the battle of Grochow there kad 
been only ten thousand new infantry levied, and 
even this infantry was neither well organissed nor 
armed ; the only armament of the greater part of 
them consisted of pikes or pitchforks. It was tbe 
same with the new tavalry, of whicb the number 
m d^ time of that battle did not am^uat U> nnm 



TUB FOLI8H EXTOLUTIOlf. 179 

than three thoosaDd six hundred ; and eyen thea^ 
forces were not formed by the exertions of the 
^vernmenty but were volunteers. In the arsenals 
the works were not conducted with promptitude. 
This department of the military administration bad 
been made great account of on paper, bat was in 
reality neglected. As we have before remarked, 
the time was occupied in useless diplomatic dis- 
cussions^ while the subject of the greatest impor- 
tance — the armament of our forces — was lost sight 
of. General Skrzynecki was well aware of this 
neglect, and soon gave a new aspect to these mat- 
ters. From the 1st of March, in which he com- 
menced the inspection of the arsenals, he was daily 
occupied with this duty, entering into all the de- 
tails, (with which he was familiarly acquainted,) 
and infusing a new vigor and , promptitude into this 
essential department of the military administration. 
In fact, in the several manufactories of arms, six 
hundred muskets per day were soon made. 

The soldiers, who before had but rarely seen 
their commander, and to the greater part of whom 
indeed the former commander was personally lur- 
-known, were elated to meet their chief often 
among them, and their enthusiasm was augment- 
ed by the frequent words of encouragement with 
which he took every occasion to address them. 
General Skrzynecki established a new regulation in 
respect to the conferring of orders of merit, whieh 
was, that none should be given either to the officers- 
Off the soldiers, but upon the expressed consent and 



180 THE POLISH RETOLUTlOn* 

approbation of the latter. By thus sabmtttiiig the 
conferring of these honors to the judgment of the 
soldier, he encouraged his self-respect, destroyed 
the power of the personal influence of the gener- 
als, and added much to the value of those honors 
as a motive for exertion.* 



* This regulation led to an occasion for the exhibition of the 
firmness of general Skrzynecki's character. On the very daj of 
the issuing of the order, the general of division, Szembek, brought 
in a report, in which he presented for decorations the names of 
several officers. General Skrzynecki refused his appficatroo. 
General Szembek, thinking himself injured by tiiis refaaal, ad- 
dressed a letter to the general in chief, repewing his apfliicaiioD, 
and adding that if it should not be granted, he would feel oiU^i^ 
to surrender his commission. General Skrzynecki, far from bcHBg 
moved from the resolution which he had adopted, agam promptly 
refused the requesL Szembek surrendered his commission. The 
whole nation regretted the loss of the valuable services of this 
officer, and under such drcumstances. But in regretting thoir kMt 
they applauded the fimmess of general Skrzynecki. The latter 
indeed felt this regret strongly, but on the other hand he was satis- 
fied that be had done his duty. The opinion of most of the patri- 
ots was decidedly expressed against general Szembek, who, upon 
such a point of personal feeling, could forget his duties to his 
country, and abandon the ranks of his fellow-soldiers, by whom he 
was held in high estimation. Szembek indeed more than once 
reproached lumself- for the sacrifice which he had thus made. 
The following anecdote will show the degree to which general 
Skrzynecki was beloved by the army, and the influence which bis 
appointment to the chief command had on the minds of the sol- 
diera. A soldier named Golemlnewski, of the 7th regiment of 
infantry, who had been wounded in the battle of Boimie, had, on 
the 1st day of March, left the hospital convalescent, although his 
wounds were not entirely healed. Skrzynecki, while inspecting 
the regiment, noticed him with his head still bandaged, and said to 
him, <' My dear comrade, why have you lefl the hospital in such 
a state? You had better return immediately." The soldier an- 
swered, ** General^ I have heard of your courage and your achieve- 



THE POUSH REVOLUTION. 



1^1 



The time at which Skrzjnecki received the chief 
command, was indeed a happy period with us, and 
enthusiasm was then at the very greatest height. 
No stronger evidence of this could be given, than 
the fact that the women of Poland actually formed 
three companies of infantry, composed from their 



own sex.* 



Our army was victorious and full of energy, and 
being then at VVarsaw, it enjoyed all the conven- 



menta, and bow much jou are beloved by the DatioD, and I coald 
not refuse myself the satisfaction of being present at the first fire 
under your command, and in which I hope that the Polish army 
will be victorious." Skrzynecki, embracing him, exclaimed : 
<( With such soldiers to command, I need have no fear that I shall 
fail to support the honor of my country.'' 

* The Polish women, wishing to share the dangers and sufier^ 
ings, and to witness the triumphs of their brethren, proposed to 
follow the example of the daughters of Sparta, and to form three 
companies under the command of several ladies of the most dis- 
tinguished families. They proposed to march upon the rear of 
the army, and when an action occurred, they were to advance to 
the aid of their countrymen. T^e first company, to be composed 
of the young and active, were to receive and carrj^off the wounded 
fh>m the field of battle, thus at the same time animatiDg the sol- 
diers by their presence. The second company was to be placed 
near the vehicles in which the wounded were transported, there 
to receive and place them, and to dress their wounds. The third 
waa to take charge of the provisions, the preparation of lint and 
bflbidages, and even of the washing of the clothing of the soldiers. 
These patriotic propositions, however, neither the nation nor the 
general in chief were willing to accept, considering that the fa- 
t%ues of a campaign would be too tiying to the female constitu- 
tion. But to satisfy in some degree the noble impulses of these 
ladles, the three companies were distributed among the hospitals, 
to take care of the sick and wounded there. 

23 



Ite TH£ POLISH REVOLUTION. 

iences which could be required by an army in a 
state of war. Their arms of every kind were well 
constructed, and in good order. The Russian 
army, on the other hand, was in a* most disadvan- 
tageous situation. Their number had been sensi- 
bly diminished, and was diminishing every day, 
from the diflficulty of subsistence and shelter, situ- 
ated as they were in the environs of Praga, which 
had been sacked and burnt by themselves. 

Marshal Diebitsch and his army began to be 
convinced, by the victories which had been gained 
over them, and the firm resistance whick they W 
uniformly met, that they were fighting wil\i a na- 
tion which had resolved to sacrifice eveiry thing toi 
liberty and independence, and that this war, which 
Diebitsch expected, and even promised, to finish 
in a few weeks, would be long protracted, and pre- 
sented to him as yet no hope of a fortunate issue. 
A certain degree of disorder also began to take 
place in the Russian army, caus.ed by the physical 
wants and the severe treatment to which the sol- 
diers were subjected. Their wounded and sick 
were left neglected, and were accumulated in great 
numbers in the ruined buildings of the half-burnt 
villages, exposed to the open air in the severe 
month of February. Desertions too began to take 
place. Every day, indeed, small parties of deserters, 
and among them even oflScers, arrived at Warsaw. 
Those men assured us that a smothered discontent 
pervaded the army. They stated that the soldiers 
had marched under the expectation that they were 



THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 183 

to act against the French and Belgians, anc] not 
against the Poles, whose revolution had been rep- 
resented to them as merely the revolt of one or 
two regiments ; and that, seeing the true state of 
things, great numbers of them desired even to 
unite with us, when a favorable moment should 
offer. These unfortunate men, who were in the 
most deplorable state, with tears in their eyes, 
addressed themselves to our soldiers in terms like 
these : " Dear Poles, do you think that we wil- 
lingly fight against you ? what could we do ? We 
were compelled to march against you by the force 
of blows. Many of our brethren gave out, and, 
falling from exhaustion on the road, have died 
under the blows of the knout." These deserters 
stated also that such a severity w.as exercised in 
the regulations of the camp, that some officers 
were shot, merely for having spoken on political 
subjects ; and that it was strictly forbidden to any 
persons to assemble together to the number of 
three or four. Such information satisfied us, that, 
although the Russian army was strong in numbers, 
morally speaking, it was weak. Our own army 
began soon to conceive high hopes, and to dream 
of victory under its brave chief.* 



• To satisfy the reader that marshal Diebitsch had began to be 
conscious of his weakness, the following trifling circumstances 
will suffice. On the first day of March, two of our soldiers who 
had been made prisoners by the Russians, returned to Warsaw, 
and presented themsel^/^es to the general in chief. One of them, 
who was' a Galician volunteer, on the question being asked in 
what way they escaped, answered, that general Diebitsch himself 



184 THS POLISH RfiVOLUTlON. 

At this period, with the exception of Prussia, who 
bad publicly manifested her hostility to oar cause, 
none of the great powers had directly injured us. t| 

Austria was occupied with Italy. From France 
and England the Poles had even cherished hopes I 

of a favorable interposition. From the former, : 



dismisied them with a present of four ducats each, enjoioing them 
to make it known in the army, tmd to say that each soldier who 
should go oyer to the Russians, would receive a like sum, and in 
addition to it a portion of land sufficient for his maintenance ; and 
that moreover they should not be forced to enter the service of the 
army. He also assured them that if they should return withmMny 
of their comrades, to accept these terms, they should be made of> 
ficers. " Dear general)" the* Galician added, " we have ewi^t 
your presence, in order to apprize you of these circumstances, and 
to place you upon your guard. The money which we have re* 
ceived, we request you to take as a contribution to the Service of 
our country. We have no need of it ; your, care will provide for 
our wants, and our desires are limited to the satisfaction of fight- 
ing for the cause of our beloved country." These brave soldiers 
were hailed with enthusiastic expressions of respect and a£fectioa 
by their comrades, and the circumstance was published in an order 
of the day, to the whole army. This adoption of such a system of 
intrigue and espionage indicated sufficiently the sense of weakness 
which marshal Diebitsch began to feel, in the situation in which 
he was then placed. 

One of our generals published in the Oazette some remarks 
upon this conduct o^ general Diebitsch, from which the following 
b a passage. *^ Marshal t such conduct is reproachful to you ; 
and by it, you have strengthened the current suspicions of the 
world, that the passage of the Balkan, which has given you such 
a name in history, was made upon a bridge of gold. But if such 
measures might have been successful in Turkey, they will not do 
in Poland, If you do not by this time know it, I can assure you 
that every Pole is willing to sacrifice his all in the cause of his 
country, and your ofiTers can therefore avail little. I repeat to you, 
that the words of our motto are, 'to die or conquer.' Come then. 
Marshal, with the sabre^and not with ducats, to the contest)" 



THS POLISH RSYOLUTIOK. 185 

e«pecialljr, after the intelligence derived from the 
correspondence of the two ministers, Lubecki and 
Grabowski, found among the papers of Constan- 
tine, which has been presented to the reader, 
(giving satisfactory evidence that Russia was in 
preparation for a campaign against her, and show- 
ing that our cause was the cause of France,) we 
had certainly the right to cherish the strongest 
hopes. But more important still than all these 
circumstances, was the intelligence received of a 
revolution which had broken out in the Russian 
department of Orenburg, under the famous Yer- 
molow, and the point of concentration of which 
was to have been the town of Samara, situated on 
the frontier of Europe and Asia- The highest 
expectations were entertained of the results of this 
movement, from our knowledge of the character 
of this celebrated general, and of his great influ* 
ence, as one of that distinguished family of Yer- 
molow, perhaps the most influential in the empire, 
(which, in fact, cherishes pretensions to the 
tljrone,) and of the distinction which be had ac- 
quired as a bold and firm leader, in a service of 
many years. 

His proclamations to the Russians, of which a 
few copies were found on the persons of their offi- 
cers who were killed in the battlfe of Grochow, 
were full of energy, and breathed the sentiments 
of a true republican— of one who calmly and dis- 
passionately aims at the good of his country. 



186 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 

These proclamations were published in all the 
gazettes of Warsaw on the first of March.* 



* Eaftraet from the proelamoHon of YermoUw. '^ Brave boob 
of Russia ! An old man of seventy, who, the conteDi]>orar7 of 
four reigns, knows well his nation and its sovereigns, lifts his vmee 
towards you, with a heart devoted to the good«of his country. He 
wishes, in the decline of a life which has been agitated by die 
storms of despotism, to infuse into your hearts the sentiments of 
liberty, and to die a freeman. Our complaints have been uttered 
in vain : our blood has been shed in vain. Are these complaints 
the only arms worthy of the Russian people ? No I It is with tbe 
sword in hand, in the capital itself, on the field of battle, in tbe 
north and in the south, that you should claim your nationaJ Ubertf, 
The idols of despotism will fall before you. The hooks of tbe 
divine law will be opened. The Czars will become the fathers of 
their people : we shall be no longer orphans and strangers u^ 
our nadve soil. As the French and English have done, and even 
as the Greeks, our brethren in Jesus Christ, have done, we wiU 
swear to conquer our liberty, and that achievement will immortal- 
ize us. Nations less celebrated, and less populous than ours, sur- 
rounded by monarchs who have combined to destroy 4hem, have 
arisen. Their brave men have joined together. They hapten, at 
the call of their country, to defend their national liberty, by their 
arms and their acts of valor. The hour is come. God, who holds 
in his hands the fate of kings and people, will bless us. Russians! 
break the chains of despotism ! You have sworn fidelity to the 
Czar, but he also has sworn to be our father. He has perjured 
himself, and we are therefore released from our oaths. Respdbt 
nevertheless the person of the Czar, for he is the anointed of the 
Lord, and our sovereign. Limit yourselves to a change of the 
form of the government, and demand a constitution. Rise up, 
and the throne will tremble. But if the despot should attempt to 
arrest your enterprize by the aid of the accomplices upon whom 
he lavishes all his fevors, forgetting that he is our monardi, and 
not theirs, and that he is the father of the great family of Rus- 
sians ; it is then that it will be seen that the autocracy must cease 
to exist, that the Russians long for liberty, that they can and will 
be free. Yeamolow. 

Samara^ 39<A of January, 1831." 



TH£ POLISH REVOLUTION. 187 

This general was for a long while governor of 
the provinces beyond the Caucasus, Abassia, 
Migretia, Imiretia, and Georgia, provinces which 
were conquered from Persia and Turkey. Besides 
possessing a great degree of military knowledge, 
Yermolow was familiar with the duties of the civil 
administration. Those provinces were happy 
under his government. He ameliorated the state 
of the commerce by which they were enriched. 
The citj of Tiflis, under him, rapidly increased to 
a great extent. That city became in fact a gen- 
eral depot of all the trade of Arcbenia, Persia, and 
Turkey in Asia. This general, who could have 
held a post of greater distinction, and nearer the 
throne, asked for this situation with the view to 
be removed as far as possible from that court which 
he despised, and the intrigues of which excited his 
abhorrence. Out of the reach of its influence, he 
could follow the impulses of his heart, and labor 
for the happiness of his fellow men. But this 
separation was not enough ; those intrigues passed 
the barrier of the Caucasus to interrupt him in his 
benevolent labors. Several commissions were sent 
to make inquiries- into his administration in various 
departments. Yermolow, to avoid these persecu- 
tions, sent in his resignation. General, now mar- 
shal Paskewitch, filled his place.* Yermolow, on 
quitting his post, retired to his own estates in the 
government of Orenburg, and lived there quietly 
in the bosom of his family. The breaking out of 
the revolutions of France, Belgium, and at last 



188 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 

that of. Poland, filled his heart with joj. He 
hoped that the time was near at hand, when the 
people would have security for their rights, and 
would^emerge from the darkness into which des- 
potism had plunged thcnt He commenced the 
revolution in his part of the empire, and (as we 
learnt at Warsaw) sustained himself for a long 
while against the superior forces which were sent 
against him. He was not, however, sufficient)/ 
supported bj the people, and was too isolated to 
continue hostilities. It is to be regretted, that be 
did not commence this movement in the pcoTiiices 
which border upon Poland. 

A VIEW OF TBE STATB OF TBB FOLISH FORCES AT TRK PSKIOD Of 
SK&ZTHECKl'S APPOIHTMENT TO THE CHIEF COMMAifD. 

After the battle of Grochow, the Polish grand 
army was composed, as at the commencement of 
the war, of nine regiments of infantry, -each con- 
sisting of three battalions. They amounted, after 
deducting the losses sustained during the cam- 
paign, to about 25,000. The newly formed in- 
fantry, which was in the battle of Grochow, 
amounted to about 6,000 ; from which are to be 
deducted about 600, lost in that battle. The 
whole force of infantry, then, amounted to 30,600 
men. The cavalry was also composed of nine 
raiments, each comprising four squadrons ; mak- 
ing, after the deduction of the losses by that bat- 
tle, about 6,000 in all. The newly formed cav- 
alry, consisting of eighteen squadrons, can also be 



J 



THR POLISH RETOLUTIOM. 189 

estimated, after the losses at Grochow, at about 
3,000 ; making, in all, 9,000 cavalry. The artil- 
lery was composed of ninety-six pieces of cannon. 

Total of the grand army : — Infantry y 30y500. 
Cavalry J 9,000. Artillery^ 96 pieces. 

The detached corps of general Dwernicki con- 
sisted, at the beginning of the campaign, of one 
regiment of infantry, composed of three battalions, 
numbering, after the losses of the campaign, 2,800 
men. The cavalry consisted of six squadrons, 
making, in all, about 1,000. The artillery, con- 
sisting at first of but three pieces, augmented by 
seven pieces taken from the Russians, amounted 
then to 10 pieces. 

The small partizan corps under the command 
of colonel Valentin, operating in the environs of 
Fultusk, consisted of 600 infantry and 100 cavalry. 

The garrison of Zamosc consisted of 3,000 in- 
fantry and eighty-four pieces of cannon. That of 
Modlin, of 3,500 infantry and seventy-two pieces 
of cannon ; and that of Praga, of 2,000 infantry 
and thirty-six pieces of cannon. 

The total amount then, of disposable forces, 
(excluding, of course, the garrisons,) on the 1st of 
March, the day on which Skrzynecki took the 
command, was. Infantry ^ 33,900. Cavalry ^ 10,100. 
Artillery y 106 pieces. 

General Skrzynecki renewed the arrangements 
of the dictator Chlopicki, in regard to the organi- 
zation of new forces. These were, that each de- 
partment should furnish from € to 8,000 infantry, 

24 



190 THE POLISH REVOLCTIOH^ 

and 1 ,000 cavalry. When this arrafigeaielit wa 
first made, four departments on the right bank ci 
the Vistula, were occupied by the eii«my ; vis* 
Augiistow, Podlasia, Lublin, and Plock. Besides 
the forces which these departments should funki, 
general Skrzynecfci proposed to the natmn, that ii 
the other departments, on the left bank of the Vis- 
tula, viz. Mazovia, Kalisz, Sandomierz, aod Cnh 
coYia, a general levy shonld be made. These ar'- 
rangements were executed with such promptitv^ 
that six regiments of two battalions eacA, tk9 
formation of which had begun in Decciaber, tad 
were bm half formed ori the first of Mart^^ ^irete^ 
by the 10th, in a complete state for service,*- 
Those regiments were distributed among the foar 
divisions of the grand army. In addition to these^ 
four regiments of cavalry, of four squadrons each, 
were also formed ; and in this mianner, the army 
received a reinforcement of 12,000 infantry, amoi^ 
which were 2,000 volunteer chasseurls, and cf 
3,200 cavalry. These newly levied^ forces, besides 
being well equipped and in fine condition, weif 
fiill of spirit and energy. When Skrzynecki made 
the inspection of these new troops, tlrcy entreated 
of him to be led to the first fire. 

In addition to the above forces, general Sitrzy* 
necki ordered the formation of e^ht regiments of 
infantry and four of cavalry, to be kept as a reserve 
to fill the ranks of the army as they should b^ 
wasted by the campaign. From this last body, 



TEB POLISH BBVOLDTION. 191 

WI8 mfterwwds, (oa the Ist of May) formed a fifth 
division. The in&Dtry of the grand army was dis- 
tributed into {om divisions. They wero formed 
and commanded as foUows : 

The IstdivisioBy mider general Rybinski, con* 
msted of fioar regiments. The 2d division, under 
general Gielgud, three regiments. The 3d divisimi, 
under genersd Bialachowski, four regiments. The 
4th division, under general Muhlberg, foar regi- 
ments. The total of the four divisions was about 
45,000 men. 

In fhi8-nond)er are included the different small 
detachments of volunteers, who act^d with the 
ailny. 

Besides this infantry, was • the National Guard 
of Warsaw, amounting to 10,000 men. 

The cavalry were also formed into four divisions, 
as follaws: The Ist divinon, under the command 
of general Uminski, 16 squadrons. The 2d, under 
general Lubinski, 16 squadrons. The 3d, under 
general Strjdnski, 16 squadrons. The 4th, which 
formed the reserve of 19 squadrons, was under 
general Fac. ThQ whole force of cavalry amount* 
ed to about 14,000. 

The construction and completion of the fortifica* 
tions at Warsaw and Praga were not less actirely 
pressed than the administration of the army ; and, 
as the left hank of the Vistula, on which Warsaw 
is situated, eommands the right, with Praga and 
its envisoBs, general Skrnynecki placed on the left 



192 THE POLISH RETOLUTIOll. 

bank twelve pieces of cannon of 24 pound calibre, 
on the heights of Dynasow and Zoliborz. This 
battery covered with its fire the neighboring plain, 
to the extent of a circle of three miles in diameteri 
and could overpower any battery which the eneroj 
might open against Praga. That town is divided 
into two parts, the first of which borders on the 
Vistula, and formed the bridge-head of the posi- 
tion ; the other part, which is more distant, was 
not fortified. This latter part was taken posses- 
sion of by the Russians, after the battle of Gro- 
chow, and was burnt by them. To the 'lab^bitants 
this was a disaster; but for our defence Vl va& a 
most favorable circumstance, as it left the enemy^s 
approach unprotected, and opened a range for oar 
fire. 

General Krukowiecki, who was appointed gov- 
ernor of Warsaw, continued the works in th^ citj 
and its suburbs with great activity. The rampart, 
which surrounds the city beyond the walls, bad 
been constructed for a defence against musquetrj 
only ; but at several points, it was now made 
defensible against artillery* Xhe ditch was con- 
siderably widened and deepened. Beyond the 
ramparts, the city was surrounded by a chain of 
lunettes^ placed in two lines, so as to alternate ivith 
each other, and afford a mutual support* The city 
, itself was divided into six parts ; each part beiog 
susceptible of an independent defence. The bar- 
ricades in the streets were constructed with open- 
ings for the fire of the artillery, above which plat^ 



THE POLiaU REVOLUTION. 198 

forms were raised for the infaDtry. Mines were 
also prepared in different parts of the city.* 

The positions of the army, and of the different 
detached corps were as follows : — The infantry, 
the artillery, and the 4th division of cavalry of the 
grand army, were at Warsaw and its environs. 
Three divisions of cavalry were posted above and 
below the city, on the left bank of the Vistula, 
whose duty it was to patrol the river, and to guard 
the communications between the fortress of Mod- 
Un and Kozienice. This chain of patrols, by 
watching the movements of the enemy, kept the 
grand ^rmy continually advised of his intentions, 
and in constant readiness to act against him, at 
any point which he might choose for attempting 
the passage of the Vistula. 

The corps of general Dwernicki was at Pulawa. 
The plan of operations which had been assigned 
to him, and which, • indeed, he had already put in 
execution, was to transfer the seat of hostilities 
to the right bank of the Vistula, to hang over and 
harass the left wing of the enemy, to relieve the 
palatinate of Lublin from his presence, and, in case 
of danger, to fall back to the fortress of Zamosc, 
and from that point to act on the neighboring re- 
gion, according as circumstances might indicate. 



* In the construction of these works in the city and the envi- 
rons, all the citizens engaged, without dbtinction of age or sex. 
One of the outworks received the name of the " hmette of the 
women," having been constructed whollj by the bands of the 



194 THE POLISH EETOLUTIOIV. 

Cokmel Valeatia was in tbe enviroiis of Puhusk, 
with his small corps of partisans. . In concert with 
the garrison of Modlin, he was to act ^n tbe right 
wing of the enemy, and hold in check all his ma- 
Meuvres npon Flock. This concave line of <^ni- 
tions, of which the extremities were at Zanaosc 
and Modlin, and the centre at Warsaw and Praga, 
was strengthened by tbe Vistula, which, althoogii 
frozen, would not allow of d passage by the enemy 
in large bodies, or of tbe construction- of a bridgiey 
as the ice of the river was momentarily expected 
to break up. 

The position of the Russian army was » kSksws. 
The right wing was at Nowy-^lwor, opposite to 
Ifodltn. At Jablonna, which k sitimted hnlf way 
from Praga to jN^owy-dwor, was placed a stroag 
detachment. At Praga were two divisions, one of 
infantry, and the other of caiQilry, with twelve 
pieces of cannon, under the command of general 
Oiesmar. The greater body of the Russian forces 
was between Wavre and Milosna ; and with tbem 
was the head-quarters of Diebitsch and <>onsta»- 
tine. Their left wing occupied Karcsewo, sad 
their patrols extended themselves along the right 
bank of the river, as for as 



CHAPTER XII. 

Operstaon ef tke eorpa of general Dweniieki Agahwt the Reeeian cerpe ender 
the prince Wirtemberg, te the Pakftinete of LnblU^— BedU of Pvlcwa, 
and defeat of Wirtemberg.— Atrocities of that prince at Pnlawa.— Pniaait of 
Itae enewy.— Bailie of Korow, and annihilation of W^rtenbeig's corps. — 
Opeiattons of colonel Valentin^ between Modlin and PultoalL— A detachflMBi 
of the enemy is anrprised at NaaieUk. — ^"franaporta of proviaiona for the ene- 
nqr from Praasia taken.^-Svcceaafol aknrniahea.— Blarahal Diebitach <TT^Mii 
the capitulation of the fortreaa of Modlin. — Reply of colonel Ledochowaki.— 
A detachment from the garrison of Modlin attacks and defeats a Ruaaian ferce 
at Sereok.— General Skrsyneeki asakes an ofler of paeiJcatiea on the bnsin ef 
the concessions originally demanded by the Poles. — ^This proposition iM re- 
jected end hostilities are reconHnenced.^-Reconnoissa p ce open the r^fxi bank 
of the Vistnla under Jankewski and Gielgod. — A Russian coipe under geaaid 
Witt is sent agunst Dwemicki. — General ITminski is sent against the Russisa 
gnard. — ^First'enoeanter.— The Rasaicn guard ia eompelled to leave <faeir po- 
aitioB for Oatrolaiika.— The guard eracnatea Ostrolenka to join the giaad annjr* 

On the day after the battle of GrochoTT, colonel 
Lagowski fought with saccess at Pulawa, at the 
head of a detachment from the corps of general 
Dwernicki. The^details of that combat are as 
follows : 



COMBAT OF PULAWA. ISeePlanXUh] 

The prince of Wirtemberg, having been beaten, 
as the reader has seen, by general Dwernicki at 
Swierza and Nowawies, was forced to retreat rap* 
idly in the direction of Pulawa, and to repass tke 
Vistula, opposite that place. The ioe of the river 
was, fortunately for him, still strong enough to wA- 
mit of a passage upon its surface ; bat notwith- 
standing this advantage, he had been parsued by 
i so closely, through the whole of his line 



196 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 

of retreat, that he dailj lost great numbers of pris- 
oners. It was on the night of the 23d of Febru- 
ary, that this passage was made by the Russians, 
9ud Pulawa occupied by them. As the position of 
that place was strong and commanding, general 
Dwernicki did not think it expedient to attack the 
enemy in front, who, although beaten, were still 
su[ierior in force. He conceived the plan of pass- 
ing the Vistula, at a point at some distance belofr 
Pulawa, and of making an attack upon the Russiaii 
right wing. On the evening of the 26th, the 
brave colonel Lagowski, with 500 infantry and two 
squadrons of cavalry, passed the Vistula (p). On 
reaching the opposite side of the river, he threw 
himself into the forests which surround Pulawa. 
The position of Lagowski would have been critical, 
if the Russians had obtained intelligenice of this 
manoeuvre ; but they had ncr suspicions of it. 
Colonel Lagowski, expecting that general Dwer- 
nicki would soon make a demonstration in front, 
left the forest, and approached the town, keeping 
up a brisk fire of skirmishers (a). The Russians, 
surprised by this attack, directed against it as strong 
a fire of artillery (/) and infantry, (d) as its sud- 
denness would allow ; but our light troops suc- 
ceeded in approaching the town, and getting pos- 
session of several houses, keeping up a continued 
fire. The two squadrons of cavalry (6) which had 
been sent to attack the enemy in bis rear, threw 
themselves upon him at the same time, with great 
impetuosity. The consternation of the Russians 



TH& POLISH REVOLUTION. 197 

became general, the greatest disorder soon follow- 
ed, and a retreat was commenced, which was at- 
tended with the loss of several hundred men and 
horses, and four pieces of artillerj. The enemy, 
in evacuating the town, set it on fire, to complete 
the barbarities which they had been practising. 
Pulawa, a spot one of the most favored of nature, 
and perhaps presenting one of the finest scenes in 
Europe, was soon a mass of ruins, the sight of 
which filled the bosom of every Pole with regret 
and horror. Those ruins, such indeed as the 
whole country is now filled with, evidences of the 
horrible barbarity of the Russians, in recalling to 
the minds of the Poles the lost beauty and mag* 
nificence of their country, will be a pledge of their 
eternal hatred of the despotism which authorized 
those ravages. 

The Russians had gained already a considerable 
distance from Pulawa, before the corps of general 
Dwernicki approached it, and, of course, the 
whole glory of that defeat is due to colonel La- 
gowski.* 

* General Dweniicki, on arriWng at Pulawa, regarded it as hit 
first duty to repair to the palace of the princess Czartoriski, the 
estiniable lady of the president of the National Senate, to offer his 
services to her, and to assure her of safety. On entering the 
codrt, the yenerable Dwernicki and the o&cen who accompanied 
him, could not restrain their tears at the sight of the ruins of that 
edifice, so uselessly destroyed, to g^tify the brutality of the prince 
of Wirtemberg, who pushed his fury to such a degree, as to 
haye directed a fire of artillery against the central division of the 
palace, occupied at that moment by the princess and her attend- 
ants. General Dwernicki and his officers, struck by the melaa- 

25 



l98 THE POLISH BEVOLUTION. 

The corps of general Dwemicki, after a short 
repose at Pulawa, renewed the parsuit of the 
enemjr on that night. In every part of their route 
the enemj^'s stragglers were coutiouall/ fallmg 
into their hands. This corps of ertook the enemj 
so soon, that in order to save himself from total 
destruction^ he was forced to give battle* 



BATTLE OF KUROW. [See Plan$XlV.mu[Xr.J 

General Dwemicki, in his pursuit of Wirtea- 
berg, had the intention of effecting the de«\iu€tioD 

choly scene before them, feared to advance another step, m te 
dread of meeting even more horrible traces of barbarity y—4o Ind 
perhaps the princess and her suite the victims of Russian cruelty. 
But what was their astonbhment, when, on entering the porch of 
the edifice, they were accosted by the princess, who with a cheer- 
ful air exclaimed: << Brave general, and oifioers! bow happy am 
I, that God has allowed me to greet my brave countrymen once 
more, before my death.^ Then giving her hand to general Dwer- 
nicki, and presenting to him and his officers the ladies who were 
her attendants during the whole of these horrible .scenes, she con- 
tinued, " General, do not be astonished to see us accoutred in the 
best garments which the Russians have left to us ; we have arrayed 
ourselves in our funeral attire,*' — and pointing to the holes with 
which the enemy's artillery had pierced the walls, she added, 
" Those marks will explain my language." General Dwarnicki, 
struck with the heroism of the princess and her companions, ad* 
dressed her in the following terms.-— "Madam, permit me, in 
the name of the whole nation, to make to you the homage of Ay 
high admiration. . Brave indeed ought Poles to be, with medierB 
and sisters such as these !" He then urged upon the prineess the 
expediency of leaving Pulawa, which miglR still be the scene oi 
distressing events, and upon this suggestion she departed onder 
an escort furnished by general Dwemicki, for her estates in 
Oalicia. 



o 



1 t' 

[ if 



\ 



e-'iW 



' 



THV POLISH RfiVOmTION. 199 

of this corps before they coald reach Lublio. To 
accomplish this ol^ct, he took advantage of the 
two roads (g, g) which lead from Putawa to Lub- 
lin (1). Remaining himself with the greater part 
of his forces (o) upon the causeway which leads 
to Lublin by Konskawola (2), Kurow (3), and 
Markussew (4), be sent a small detachment (6) 
with two pieces of cannon by the other and smaller 
road, which, traversing the forest between Belzyc 
and Pulawa, presents a shorter and more direct 
route to Lublin. This road had not been occu- 
pied by the enemy. Colonel Lagowski, who 
commanded this detachment, had instructions to 
follow out this road^ and to keep up a constant 
eommunication with the superior force under gen- 
eral Dwernicki. He was ordered to keep himself 
constantly abreast of the enemy (d). At the mo- 
ment that he should hear the fire of our cannon, 
he was directed to hasten to the attack of the ene- 
my on his left wing, or on his rear, as circumstan- 
ces might direct. This manoeuvre was executed 
with the utmost punctuality. The enemy pressed 
in upon the causeway by the larger body under 
Dwernicki, and thus forced to give battle^ took a 
position upon the heights of the town of Kurow, 
iuidoing' which, bis consternation or his inconsid- 
erateness was such, that he neglected the ordinary 
means of security, and did not occupy the roads 
which centre at that place, uot^even that which it 
was of the. utmost importance for him to occupy, 
«— the one which leads from Belzyc to Pulawa; 



200 THE EOLISH REVOLUTION. 

in fact, be had even neglected to send oat recon- 
noissances on any side, supposing that our entiie 
force was before him on the causeway. This 
fciattle commenced on the afternoon of the 2d of 
March, and continued only a few hours. 

General Dwernicki,« after reconnoitering the 
enemy's position, which was commanding, and 
strengthened in its front by sixteen pieces of can- 
non [(/), PI* XV.] thought it expedient to com- 
mence with a fire of skirmishers only (a), under 
cover of which he manoeuvred his cavalry (6) upon 
the Russian wings, with the sole purpose of occu- 
pying the attention of the enemy until the i^Ui^ 
ment of colonel Lagowski should make its appeai- 
ance. The enemy, on the other hand, commenced 
a warm fire from his artillery, and threw forwaid 
his light troops (d) in every direction. Some 
hours passed in this manner, the enemy attempting 
from time to time to force our position. Bat the 
hour of his destruction was approaching. General 
Dwernicki perceiving, from an elevation of ground 
the detachment of Lagowski (A) advancing upoo 
the enemy's rear, instantaneously gave orders for 
the cavalry to concentrate themselves. The sig- 
nal for advance was then given, and the cavalry 
having formed on each side of the main rond* 
pressed forward and fell upon the centre of the 
enemy. At the same moment, a charge was made 
by the cavalry of lagowski upon the enemy's rear. 
The disorder and consternation of the Russian 
forces was indescribable. In a moment ten pieces 



THE POLISH RSVOLUTION. 201 

of canoon, a thousand praoners, some hundreds 
of horses, with many wagons of ammunition and 
baggage, feli into our hands. The route was gen- 
eral. The enemy fled pell-mell, and hb loss was 
much increased by a fire of grape from the two 
pieces of artillery of colonel Lagowski, which he 
placed by the side of the road from Kurow to 
Laiblin, over which the Russians retreated. This 
road was literally covered with dead. Nothing but 
the coming on of night saved the enemy from en- 
tire destruction. ^ Aft&f this battle, the forces of 
the prince of Wirtemberg ceased to act as a corps. 
What remained of them, took the direction of 
Lublin, where the corps of general Dwernicki ar- 
rived the next day, having taken prisoners during 
the whole route. The prince of Wirtemberg bare- 
ly escaped from our hands, for he was in quarters 
in that cit^ when our advanced detachments en- 
tered it, and was just able to save himself by 
flight. Such was the end of this Russian corps, 
which, when it began to act against Dwernicki 
with his small force of S^OOO men, and ten pieces 
of cannon, consisted of 16,000 infantry, and 24 
pieces of cannon. In the course of eleven days, 
general Dwernicki gave battle to this corps four 
several times, viz. at Swierza, Nowawies, Pulawa, 
and Kurow ; and besides the loss he caused them 
in killed and wounded, he took 8,000 prisoners, 
19 pieces of cannon, besides 1,000 horses, with a 
gre^ quantity of ammunition, baggage, &c. In 
all these actions the corps of general 



202 THE POLISH REyOLUTIOn. 

lost but 500 men, in killed and woraided. The 
panic which had began to prevail in the Russian 
forces, in consequence of these disasters, reached 
spch a degree that, at times, the mere sight of oar 
troops was sufficient to put them to flight. T^ 
Russian commander in chief deprived the prince 
of Wirtemberg of his post, and his name was not 
heard of during the rest of the war. 

General Dwernicki, by his victories over this 
corps, had completely freed the department of 
Lubiin from the presence of the ^nemy. On ar- 
riving at Lublin, he restored the authority of tiie 
National Government in that place, and the i^^on 
about. He made the necessary arranjgements iot 
reinforcing his corps, and left for Krasnystaw, in 
the environs of Zamosc. 

While these successful operations of general 
Dwernicki, in the southern part of the kingdom, 
were in progress, and by this series of victories, 
he was approaching the frontiers of Wolhynia and 
Podolia, our arms were not less successful in the 
North. 

The brave colonel Valentin, with a small de- 
tachment of partizans, fought the enemy with suc- 
cess between Modlin and Pultusk. This detach- 
ment was thrown into that region, (acting, how^ 
ever, more particularly between the rivers Wkra 
and Orsyca,) in order to hold in check the opera- 
tions of the enemy upon Plock. This detachment 
was to obtain succor, in case of necessity, from the 
garrisons of Modlin. It was especially destined 



Tfi£ POLISH REVOLUTION. 203 

to intercept the -transports which were to come 
from Prussia upon the road to Mlara, for the relief 
of the Russian army. 

Colonel Valentin was occupying with his de-* 
tachment the forest near the town of Nasielsk^ 
when he was apprised that a small body of Rus-* 
sian troops, under the order of colonel Schindler, 
consisting of two regiments of cavalry, a battalion 
of infantry, and two pieces of cannon, had arrived 
on the 3d of March, at that town. This detach- 
ment had been sent to protect a transport which 
was to pass there. Colonel Valentin immediately 
formed a plan to attack it. During the night of 
the 3d and 4th of March, he approached the town, 
invested it, and ordered dn attack, in which the 
detachment surprised the enemy, and forced him 
to quit the city, leaving his two pieces of artillery, 
and a number of prisoners. Colonel Valentin, 
thinking that the Russians might possibly return 
with a superior force, evacuated the city, and took 
his prisoners to Modlin, in order, by disembarrass- 
ing himself of them, to hasten his march and reach 
the environs of Pultusk, in time to intercept the 
transport. On the 5th, he took this transport, 
consisting of eighty vehicles, loaded with various 
kinds of provision, together with twelve loads of 
equipage, &c. for the Russian generals, which he 
sent to Warsaw. The detachment of colonel Va- 
lentin continued to manoeuvre for a long while in 
those environs without any support. 

In the vicinity of Warsaw^ along the banks of 



204 TU£ POLISH BSYOLUTION. 

the YUtula, both above and below»the city, snail 
skirmishes almost daily occurred. On the fourtii 
of March 9 the brave lieutenaat Berowski, passing 
the Vistula opposite Jablonna with his platpoo, 
surprised a squadron of cossacks, and took a buB' 
dred prisoners and as many horses. The battalion 
of volunteer chasseurs of colonel Grotus, posted 
in the environs of the villages Siekierki, and 
Wilanow, brought in, almost every day, parties of 
Russian prisoners, by surprising the difiereot de<- 
tachments of the enemy placed upon the islsad 
of Saxe, opposite to the above mentiofled places. 
This same battalion burnt two batteaux, m ^bkk 
were a party of Russian troops, who were semV 
during the night, with combustibles to bom the 
bridge between Warsaw and Praga^ These boats 
were ^Unk, and the Russians who escaped drown- 
ing, were taken prisoners. In the enirirons of 
the small town of Gora, about twenty miles from 
Warsaw, a considerable body of workmen who 
were sent by the enemy to prepare the materials 
for building a bridge, were surprised by a battalioo 
of the 2d regiment of light infantry. A hundred 
pioneers and sappers were taken prisoners, and 
m^y hundred male and female peasants set at 
liberty, who had been forced to work for the 
enemy. 

At about the 8th of March, marshal Diebitsch 
demanded the capitulation of the fortress of Mod- 
lin, for which object he despatched colonel Kil. 
This oflBlcer was entrusted with a letter to the 



TBI POLISH BSVOLUTIOIf. SOU 

coont Leducbowski, written by the marehaPs own 
hand. His proposition was rejected.* 



* The reader will perhape be gratified with a short topografili^ 
cal description of this fortress, and some details of this affair. 
The fortress of Modlin, which is in a pentagonal form, is sittiated 
sixteen miles ftom Warsaw, upon the right bank of the Ylsittls^ 
at the junction of the Narew with the former river. Not fiur 
from this fortress, the small river Wkra also joins the Narew. 
The fortress is thus situated between three rirers. In addition 
to this peculiarity <>€ its sitoaiion in regard to the riTers, its com- 
manding eJeyation makes it a point of great strength. Opposite 
to it IB the small town of Nowy-dwor, but this town is so low that 
it is commanded by the fortress, and it is besides too distant for 
the erection of batteries by which the latter could be bombarded 
with success. This post is very important in regard to tactics, 
and it is a key of position, to protect, or to act upon, all operations 
between the Narew and the Vistula. Marshal Diebitsch, consid- 
ering these circumstances, and seeing that an open attack was 
scarcely possible, was led to attempt negotiation. The letter sent 
by the marshal, was full of flattering language in regard to the 
heroism of fte Polish army. He pemodtted himself, howerer, to 
say that it was to be regretted that such a degree of herolmi was 
not exhibited in a better cause — that the brave Polish army was 
made a sacrifice of, by some ambitious and opinionated men, who 
had forgotten their duties to their monarch, and their oaths of 
fidelity. From such men as those, he wished to distinguish the 
count Leduchowski, for whom he had the highest esteem, and 
. who, he was .convinced, had no desire to continue a useless ex- 
penditure of blood, and would willingly surrender the fortress to 
the troops of his legitimate monarch. To all this, marshal 
Diebitoch added the assurance that the fortress should be garri- 
stmed by equal bodies of Russian and PoUsh troops. Colonel 
Leduchowski made a reply to this complimentary commiuication 
in nearly the following terms: — ^* Marshal, to your letter, in which 
you have chosen to flatter the valor of my coqntrymen, and in 
which you have honored me, in particular, with your attentions, 
I have the honor to answer, that I cannot better deserve your good 
opinion, than in' defending, with my compatriots, our beloved 
country to the last drop of my blood. Thjg'is the course which 
the honor of each brave Pole dictates to him." 

26 



206 TUB FOUSH R£ye(.UTION. 

Some days after this answer, a^part of the ^ar» 
rison of this fortress, sent as a reinforcemeitt to 
colonel ValeDtio, surprised the Russians in the 
town of Serock. They had passed the river Bug, 
and the Narew opposite that town, to make requi* 
silicNds of forage in the country around. By a 
pronpt arrangement^ the batteaox of the enemy 
were taken by our troops ; and his forces> suddenly 
attacked and defeated, were compelled to eiracuale 
their position, leaving a thousand prisoners in our 
hands, which were immediately carried to ModliB, 
and thence to Warsaw^ • 

In this state of things, and while circumstaitf^es 
were continually occurring with uniform advaaUge 
to the Polish arms, general Skrzynecki, with the 
most sincere wish to finish a bloody struggle, and 
anxious to show that the Poles were always ready 
to hold out the hand of reconciliation, wrote, with 
the permission of the provisional government, a 
communication to marshal Diebitsch, with propo* 
sitions of that purport. But as these offers of 
conciliation were rejected by the marshal, the coa^ 
test was recommenced.^ 



* This letter, written at the moment when our army was vio- 
toriouB, and when a revolution, ready to break out in all the PoliA 
provinces attached to Russia, made the position of the Ruflsim 
army extremely dangerous, was couched in most conciliatory terms, 
having for its sole object the termination of a fVatemal struggle. 
In this letter, the generalissimo sought to convince marshal Di»> 
bitsch, that this was not a war undertaken on our part at the insti- 
gation of a few individuals, but that it was espoused by the whole 
nation, and that the j>eop1e were forced to take up arms by the 
enormity of those acts of tyranny, which were not perhaps even 



THB POMSH EBf OLUTIOir. 207 

On the 10thr%of March, the operations of the 
eampaign were recommenced. Th^ 2d division^ 
the command of which, after tha death of general 
Zimirski, was given to^general Gielgud,MEind a di- 
vision of cavalry, under the command of general 
Jankowski, received orders to make a strong re- 
connoissance upon the right bank of the Vistula. 
This division was ordered to pass the bridge in the 
night, and at break of day to commence the attack 
upon whatever force of the enemy they m^ht find 
on the plains of Grochow or Kawenzyn, and, by 
thb manoeuvre, to harass the right wing of the 
enemy. But general Jankowski arrived late. It 
was near eight o'clock,. A. M. before he approached 
with his division, at which time the two divisions 
united left Pra^a to commence their attack, but 
this operation being thus retarded, could not be 
made effective. The enemy, seeing our move- 
known to the moDareb. lie urged him to consider the amount of 
Mood which had been already abed, and the indefinite prolongation 
to- which such a struggle might be extended. He urged him also, 
to make known these representations to the monarch, and to invite 
faim to lay aside all enmity, to visit and hear in person the com* 
plaints of the nation, who would receive him with sincerity, and 
who demanded of him only the confirmation and observance of the 
rights granted by the constitution, and the extension of the same 
rights to dur brethren in the Russo-Polish provinces. What an 
opportunity was here presented to the Emperor Nicholas to act 
with magnanimity, and to extend a conciliatory hand to the Polish 
nation ^ Those letters will be an eternal testimony, that the Poles 
attempted every amicable means, to estaUish upon an equal basb 
their own happiness and civilization, and that of the whole norths 
and that all the responsibility of the blo(^ struggle which was 
eonthiued, rests on the side of despotism. 



906 THX POLISH B«¥«LUTION. 

laenti had time to prepare thequtlves to counter- 
act it. Our forces baying ad?anced a mile or two 
upoa the main^^jpi^, commenced a fire of tirail- 
leurs, aii4 the enemy began to retire. As it was 
designed to act upon Kawenzjn, a battalion was 
seat to attempt an attack on^ the forest of elden, 
well kAown to the reader ; but as the enemj was 
quite strong at that point, and particularly in artil- 
lery, a fire from which was immediately opened 
upon our force, the attack was not made, aad our 
battalion was ordered to withdraw. The Rassians,' 
at about-mid-day, began to show a stiwger force 
upon the plains of Wavre. Their artiUeT^, als(s 
opened a fire upon the maiq^ road. This &re^ 
continued an hour, when our generals, not pei^ 
celving that the artillery was protected by cavalry, 
decided to make a charge upon them with the 
regiment of Mazurs, and the 3d regiment of light 
cavalry. This brigade of cavalry, under the com- 
mand of the brave colonels Blendowski and MiUer, 
threw themselves with courage upon that artilleiy, 
when, at the moment of the charge, two regiments 
of Attaman Cossacks, which were posted in a 
wood adjoining, displayed their front, and advanc* 
ed to charge our cavalry upon the flank and rear. 
Our attack therefore failed, and it was owing to 
good fortune alone that by a rapid bending of our 
flank, this body of cavalry was saved from total 
ruin. This unfortunate affair cost us a heavy loss 
of men, and of both of the brave colonels who 
commanded the Utack. At about 2, P. M. as the 
enemy began to^debouch from the great forest 



THS POUMI RIYOLUTION* 209 

wkb iBcreaaed forces, it was decided to return 
to WarsaWf and thus eoded this reconnoissance, 
which, bad it been executed by 4pore skilful gen- 
erals, -might have had the best success, Ibr all tfie 
Russian regiments which had advanced towards 
Praga, at a considerable distance from their main 
forces, might have been taken. A reprimand was 
publicly given to the two generals, Gielgud and 
Jankowski, for their remissness in executing their 
ii^lriietions. The only advantage which was 
gained by this reconnoissance, was the taking of a 
great quantity of fascines and other materials pre- 
pared for a storm of Praga, and the collection from 
off the field of a considerable* quantity of arms, 
which Imd been left there by the enemy, after the 
battle of the 26th.* 

* The following pardculars will demonstrate to the reader bow 
moch even the enemy appreciated Polish courage and devotednesa. 
After t^ affair, our generalissimo, regretting much the loss of the 
brave colonel Blendowski, who had fallen in his wounded state 
into the enemy's hands, sent a flag to general Giesmar, the com- 
maoder of the Russian adranced guard, to propose an exchange, 
if colonel Blendowski was still living, and if dead, to request that 
his body might be given up. At the moment that the officer bear- 
ing the flag, with a party of lancers, arrived at the Russian quar« 
ten, he saw a body of Roipians with general Qiesmar, and his 
suite at their side, bearing a wounded officer, and advancing to- 
wards them. Our officer, as they approach^, recognized colonel 
JMendowski in the wounded officer, and announced to general 
CKesmar that it was to obtain him that be had been sent. On 
receiving this conununication, general Giesmar repGed, *< You see, 
sir, that I had anticipated your object. Make my intentions known 
to your conmiattder, and let him know how much I honor Polish 
heroism.*' This general took part, with his own hand, in all the 
arrangements for transferring the wounded «|leer, and two of his 
suite were among those who bore his body. 



210 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 

The Russian commander having, as the read^ 
is aware, lost nearly the whole of the corps of the 
prince Wirtembiirg, the remnants of which was 
dispersed and4iad wholly ceased active operational 
sent against general Dwernicki the corps of geih 
eral Witt, composed of 8,000 infantry, 2,000 cav- 
alry, and 16 pieces of cannon. This corps arriyed 
on the 1 1th at Lublin, in which town was a small 
detachment of Dwernicki's corps, commanded by 
the colonel Russyian. This small detachineiif, 
having only barricaded a few streets, defended 
with much firmness the passage of the small nVer 
Bystrzyca, and left the city at night-M to wjcm 
its corps, which was in the^' environs t)f Zamosc 

Again the corps of the Russian guard, which had 
recently arrived, under the command of prince 
Michael, consisting of 16,000 infantry, 4,000 cav- 
alry, and 36 pieces of cannon, a^division of caval- 
ry, with eight pieces of cannon, was sent into the 
environs of Pultusk, commanded by general Umin- 
ski, who was to take under his command the de- 
tachment of colonel Valentin, and acting in con- 
cert with the garrison of Modlin, he was to oc- 
cupy the attention of the enoiiy, in order that our 
main body should not be disturbed in the offensive 
operations which general Skrzynecki had decided 
to adopt. 

General Uminski arriving with his corps, met 
an advanced detachment of the Russian guard in 
the environs of Makow, composed of two regi- 
ments of liussars and eight pieces of cannon, who 



^r-^ 



THE POLISH REYOLUTIOlf. 211 

w 

were sent forwaid as a party of obserYation in that 
Yiciiuty. This was the first encounter with this 
celebrated guard. Our cavalry iii^ted impatiently 
for the moment to try their strength wllh them. 
Two young regiments, one a regiment of Krakus 
of Podlasia, and the other -the 6th Hulans, en- 
treated their general to be permitted to make the 
charge. General Uminski, observing that there 
was no stronger force near, ordered an immediate 
attack. 

Our cavalry, on receiving the order, did not even 
give the enemy time to display his front, or to 
make use of his artillery, but rushed upon him 
with an impetuous charge, under which he was at 
ovce borne down. Of one regiiAent of those hus- 
sars nearly a squadron were taken prisoners. This 
Russian cavalry, which were in full route, were 
pursued as far as the environs of Magnieszewo. 
The enemy was not permitted to take position, 
and the pursuit was pressed with such rapidity, 
that they had not time to destroy the bridge which 
crosses the river Orsyca, but were followed even 
to the environs of Rozany, where they reached 
the position of their »ain body. General Uminski, 
in order not to expose his force to the observation 
of the enemy, halted in an advantageous position 
in the forests near Rozany, and from this position 
he continued to hold the enemy in check. In fact, 
by harassing and wearying the enemy with contin- 
ual attacks, he at length forced the prince Michael 
to quit Rozany, taking the direction of Ostrolenka. 



212 IWE POLISH RXTOLUTIOlf. 

General Uminski sent in piirsait of the enemj the 
brigade of cavalry under the command of ookNMl 
Dembinski. 1|^is brigade, opposite Ostroleoka 
upon tb^ Narew, had, on the 26th of March, an 
advantageous affair with the advanced guard cS tbe 
enemy, in which forty prisoners were taken. Bj 
closely observing the enemy in this manncuL, it was 
ascertained that the Russian guard, after destroy- 
ing the bridge, had completely evacuated Osixo- 
lenka. It was evident that the design of prince 
Michael, in this sudden evacuation of Ostroleoka, 
was to join himself to the grand army. Genera/ 
Uminski immediately sent an officer tomiotrntbe 
commander in chief of this movement, con^nuuig 
in the mean tlmfe in the position which he hid 
taken before Ostrolenka. 




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CHAPTER XIII. 

Plan of general Sknjnecki to act npon the isolated corpa of Roaen and Gies- 

mar. — Battle of Wawr. — Varioua detachmenta of the enemy are taken after 

Ifaai battle, asd a great nuaiber of priaoneia.— Battle of Dembe-Wielke.^ 

DeetructiTe pnraait of the enemy by our caTalry.— View of the Rnaaian loaaee 

In ^e preeedlng days. — Marthal Diebitach abandons hia plan of croaaing the 

Viatula, and marchea to the reacae of the remaina of the corpa of Roaen and 

Gieamar, and the Imperial Guard. — View of the position of the two anniea 

alter the aecend repolse of the en^my ftt>m before Waraaw.— Operations of 

general Dwemicki. — SQCcesaes of a reconnoiaaance under colonel Rnssyiaa 

at tJaciulog. — ^£fiect of Dwemicki'a Tictoriea on the inbabitanta of the pro- 

Wncea. — Acknosirledgement of general Dwemicki'a aerrices by the NathMial 

Goremment. — The inatructiona for hia Aitare operationa. 

The news of this prompt and sudden eracuation 
of Ostrolenka by the Russian guard, and the evi- 
dent intention of the Grand Duke Michael to dis- 
continue his operations in the palatinate of Plock, 
and to make a junction with the grand army, as 
well as other certain intelligence that Eiarshal 
Diebitsch bad withdrawn the main body of his 
forces, [See (A) Plan XVI.] and had left only a 
corps of observation, composed of the two corps of 
Rosen and Giesmar (B), in the environs of WaWr 
and Milosna, determined our generalissimo to 
hasten to the execiftion of the plan, for a long 
time decided upon, which was to throw himself 
with his whole forca upon the nearest Russian 
corps, and to crush them before marshal Diebitsch 
could come to their succor. 

On the 29th and 30th, our general in chief made 
a feview of the greater part of the army. All 
the troops received him with expressions of the 

27 



214 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 

greatest enthusiasm. He could not bat be de- 
lighted at the sight of that fine and energetic 
force, and be confident of the most brilliant suc- 
cesses. All the troops defiled before the general, 
carrying with them the trophies which they bad 
taken from the enemy ; and each platoon, as thej 
passed, hailed him with some patriotic exclama- 
tion, and pledged themselves that they would nerer 
return without having satisfied, his orders to the 
utmost. On the night of that day^ the commaD' 
ders of the several divisions received the order to 
hold themselves in readiness to march at a mo- 
ment's warning. 



BATTLE OF WAWR. [See Plan XVII.J 

4 

On the evening of the 30th, the two divisioHS 
of infantry under Rybinski and Gielgud, and the 
brigade of cavalry under Kicki, received orders to 
pass from Warsaw to Praga. That force quitted 
Warsaw at ten o'clock, P. M. 

Wbilst the division of Gielgud *and tbe cavalry 
of Kicki were to occupy the great road (g) leadii^ 
to Grochow, the 1st division, under Rybinski, was 
to march upon the right wing of the enemy at 
Kawenzyn (K). This last division was to drive 
the enemy from his position in as short a time as 
possible. If the enemy's forces al Zawenzyn were 
found to be greatly superior to his own, genftnJ 
Rybinski was directed to continue his* fire, and 



I 



TU£ POLISH REVOLUTION. * 215 

await a reinforcement, which should be immedi- 
ately sent to him. If he should be so fortunate 
as to take Kawenzyn, general Rybinski was to 
send, by a small road (/) leading from this place, 
through the forest, to Milosna, a few battalions 
(fH) to that village. Other battalions (rf) were to 
be dispersed in the forest,* between that small road 
and the main road* Having made those arrange- 
ments, the position of Kawenzyn was to be vigor- 
ously defended, in order to .baffle every effort of 
the enemy to retake it. The accurate* and prompt 
execution of this plan was expected to effect the 
cutting off of all the enemy's forces, which were 
to be found upon the field of Wawr. In regard to 
the division of Gielgud upon the main road, the 
instructions given were that it should not com- 
mence its fire until apprised of general Rybinski's 
having gained possession of Kawenzyn. This di- 
vision was till then to limit its attention to the 
object of retaining the enemy in his position near 
Praga, long enough to give time for the corps of 
general Rybinski to occupy the above mentioned 
forest, and to operate in the enemy's* rear. The 
moment for the advance of the 2d division, was to 
be, when the fire of the light troops of Rybinski 
should be heard in the forest. 

All these dispositions were executed with the 
greatest exactitude under the protection of a thick 
fog. The division of general Rybinski, having 
quitted Praga at midnight, arrived as far as the 
environs of Kawenzyn, wkhout being in the teast 



216 TH£ FOLI8H REYOLDTIOII. 

disturbed by the enemy. This skilfol general had 
the precaution, not to attack the enemy UBtU an 
hour before day-break ; in the interval, while rest- 
ing in the woody ground near Kawenzyn, he sent 
forward a patrol, with directions to approach near 
enough to ascertain, as far as practicaUe, the po- 
sition, the strength, and the nature of the fiwce 
of the enemy, and sent another patrol in the di- 
rection of the forest of elders to reconnoitre the 
enemy there. Those patrols returned wirh the 
intelligence that the enemy's force couitf pot be 
great, as they could perceive no lai^e teuchmteats 
placed as advanced posts. It was betweM fttt 
and six in the morning, when the* first fire of gear 
end Rybinski, at Kawenzyn, gave notice to the 
2d division of Gielgud, at Praga, that it was the 
time to advance. The brigade of cavalry, under 
Kicki, (6), with the 2nd and 7th regiments of 
lancers, having with them three pieces of cannoi, 
spread out their flankers, and advanced slowly, 
directed continually by the fire of general Rybin- 
ski, who in the mean time had pushed two battal- 
ions at the charge, supported by a few pieces of 
artillery, and had carried the enemy's position by 
storm, and taken possession of Kawenzyn. The 
enemy were instantly routec} by this impetuous at- 
tack, and lost three pieces of cannon. The division 
- passed tbrougfi Kawenzyn, sent two battalions (m) 
to Milosna, occupied the forest (A) in the rear of 
the enemy's principal force, and commenced a fire. 
When this fire was heard by our forces (B) upon 



THE POLISH RfVOLUTIOK. 217 

the main road^ they pushed forwardi and a general 
and rapid advance was commenced under cover of 
the thick fog. Two regiments of cossack cavalryi 
(h)j who were posted in columns near the Obelisk 
of Iron, were borne down before them. A great 
number of prisoners were ta^ien on the spot. Our 
brave lancers, under Kicki, animated by this suc- 
cess, did not halt in their attack. They fell upon 
an advanced post of Russian artillery of three 
pieces (/) near Grochow, and took them before 
tiey bad time to fire. By seven or eight o'clock, 
the eaemy was entirely surroimded, and bis retreat 
by Milosna was wholly cut off. It was with the 
dissipation of the fog that we witnessed the con- 
fusion into which had been thrown the whole ad- 
vanced guard of Giesmar, composed of four regi* 
oaeots of sixteen battalions of infantry (a), eight 
squadrons of cavalry (A), and twenty-four pieces of 
cannon (/). The disorder of this advanced guard 
was such, that the Russian battalions had actually 
been firing against each other, and that fire ceased 
only with the clearing up of the fog. The 95th 
and 96th Russian regiments, amounting to 5,000 
men, with all their officers and colors, were taken 
in a body, and with them the brigadier general 
Lewandowski. If the fog had continued half an 
bour longer, so that we could have occupied the 
load to Karczewo, the whole of this advanced 
guard would have been taken ; for what remained 
of them saved themselves only by flying along that 
road. 



218 THE POLISH REVOLlTTIOlf* 

This attack, which Was the business of a few 
hours, forced the enemy to quit his advantageous 
position in the commanding forest, between AVawr 
and Milosna, which he had occupied for a month, 
and on which he had constructed considerable for- 
tifications. Driven from this important position, 
he could only expect to be subjected to still greater 
losses. At Milosna (3), three battalions of the 
enemy with four pieces of cannon, placed as aji 
isolated detachment, were dispersed, and th^t 
cannon taken. Another isolated detacAmeiit of 
cavalry of hussars and cossacks of Czaroo-morskie, 
posted at Janowek, met the same fate, and ^tasoq- 
ers were taken in every direction. Our two di- 
visions pursued the enemy with unremitted celer- 
ity, and, followed by our main forces, reached 
Dembe-Wielke, at which place was the corps o( 
general Rozen, composed of about 30,000 men 
and 40 pieces of cannon. 



BATTLE OF DEMBE-WIELKE. [See Plan XVIH] 

As the enemy occupied the heights (D) of 
Dembe-Wielke, on the side of the marsh opposite 
to our forces, which, to attack him, would have 
had to traverse the dyke (A:) constructed over this 
marsh, — the commanders of the two divisions con- 
sidered it expedient to await the arrival of our 
whole force, which approached some hours after. 
General Skrzynecki, satisfied that an attack msrde, 
over the dyke, upon the commanding position of 



THE POLISH RSYOLUTION. 219 

tbe enemy on the other side, in broad day, woold 
cost too great a sacrifice of men, determined to 
amuse him by a constant fire of our skirmishers (a), 
who advanced as far as the marshy ground which 
divided the two armies would permit. A little 
before night, the general in chief ordered all the 
cavalry (b) to be brought together, and formed in 
columns of attack, with the two squadrons of car- 
biniers, under the brave colonel Szneyder, at their 
head. At tbe approach of twilight, he ordered 
these columns to pass the dyke on a trot, and to 
throw themselves upon the enemy on the right and 
left, attacking with the sabre. 

Awhile the cavalry was passing the dyke, the 
artillery (c) was to open a general fire, ceasing, 
however, when the passage of the dyke should be 
efifected. 

The order was given, and this mass of cavalry, 
under the fire of the artillery^ raised the hurrah, 
and passed the dyke with the rapidity of lightning, 
followed by our infantry, having at their head the 
brave 4th regiment. The enemy was in such 
consternation that he was not in a state to make 
a defence, and his whole battery was overthrown. 
Full three thousand prisoners were taken, together 
with the entire battery, consisting of twelve pieces 
of cannon of large calibre, some fifty voitures of 
different kinds, as caissons of ammunition, bag- 
gage-wagons, &c., and a great number of horses.* 

* The horses taken on that day, and at the battle of Wavre, 
were employed to mount the entire new regiment of the lancers 
of Augnstow. 



220 THC POLISH BEV0JLUTI05* 

In a word, the corps of general JElosen was coah 
pletely broken up ; the coming on of night, and 
the forests, alone saved them from total ruia. 
General Rosen himself, with hb suite, was pur- 
sued and was near being taken. All his equipage, 
consisting of three voitures, fell into our liaod& 
Thus ended the glorious 30th of March. Tbe 
generalissimo, who was always in the advance, 
and who had personally arranged all the details of 
that day's operations, particularly at Dembe, jasti- 
fied well the high opinion which the genera] ofScers 
and the army had entertained of him. The SOtb of 
March placed his name high on the roW o( distin- 
guished leaders. On that memorable da;, livo 
Russian corps, those of Giesmar and Rosen, were 
completely broken up. It cost the enemy, in 
dead, wounded and prisoners, full 10,000 men and 
22 pkces of cannon. On our side the loss was 
not more than 500 killed and wounded. For the 
successes of that day general Skrzynecki received 
from the government the order of the great Cross 
of Military Merit. The general in chief was ac^ 
companied, during the actions, by prince Adam 
Czartoriaki, and the members of the National 
Government, Berzykowski, and Malakowski. 

To follow up the pursuit [See Plan XIX.] of 
the fragments of the two Russian corps, general 
Skrzynecki designated the division of cavalry (A) 
tinder general Lubinski, with a battery of light 
artillery. This detachment set out during the 
night, sending reconnoissances to the right and 









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•THK FOLI8U KBTOLUTIOH. 2S1 

left, to see tbat the eoemy did not prepare ambm* 
cades. The army followed this advanced goard, 
which soon overtook the enemy (B), who was 
still in great disorder. Infantrj^, cavalry, artillery, 
and vehicles, were mingled together, pressing their 
retreat* Af each step, our cavalry took up pris- 
oners. Upon some positions the enemj attempted 
to make a stand, but every such attempt was 
thwarted, and be was carried along before our 
troops. This was the case in the position of Minsk 
and of Jendrseiow, where two regiments of Rus- 
sian cavalry Wete routed by the second regiment 
of chasseurs. It was the same case in the forest 
of Kaluszyn, where our artillery approached the 
Russian rear ^ard, and poured upon them a fire 
of grape, which scattered death among their ranks* 
The Russians, being no longer in a state to make 
any srtaad whatever, fell into a panic, and com^ 
menced a general flight. They were pursued bj 
general Lubinski as far as Kalunyn, where night 
closed upon the scene Of destruction. 

This day cost the enemy nearly as much as the 
preceding. Besides their loss in dead and wound-* 
ed, 3,000 prisoners foil into our hands, with three 
standards, four pieces of cannon, and a hundred 
vehicles of baggage, ammunition, &c., — in foct, 
the whole baggage of the corps. But the most 
agreeable success of our army on that day, was 
the taking possession of the hospitals of Minsk 
and Jendrzeiow, in which as many as two hundred 
of our cooMrades were lying wounded. To wk- 

28 



£22 1HB P0U9H HKVOtUITlOll. . 

nM9 the joy of those bravs «]^[bren inm mombt 
]ieBK enough for aU our fatigues. The iiDf«tiH 
osity of oiuc attack was such, that the eoemj bad 
not line to burn the ibagazioes of JMKlosiia, Miaskt 
and Kaluszyoy which fell lAto our hairf». To 
iBal|e a recapitcilation of the loss oi the enonj cni 
those two daysr^^it was as ibUowa :— *Two of their 
feaemla, Lewaodewski and SsuBzeria, takaa pris- 
xmersy with as maaj as sixt^fr officets, of differeat 
grades^ 15,000 soldiers in kiUad,. WQUoded aatf 
prisoners; 26 pieces of csmnon, seven sUmdaidSf 
1^600 horses, a great quantity of diflbcftat kiod$ 
of arms and implemefits^ and as manj m \Q0 v^ 
Ueles of various kinds. 

The disasters of tbeqe two Russian eorpi vett 
the cause of the abaadonmeM of tW plas liUch 
had been adopted by marshal Diehitsek^ of p9s«ng 
the ViMula batwemi Pulawa and' Maceiawm} op- 
posite Ko^ieniee, with thcf greater part ef bis 
at Diy ; aad to executa which he had k£t hia fWr 
tion on the latteo days of Marctv and had readnd 
the environs of Ryk. [See Fi(m XVI.^ The 
fear of lasing those two coj^ps^ togetheir with ihi 
gaardr had led hiia to vctum in the diftocdoaof 
the town of Kock, to aibnl them suooar., 

After these days/»» fbituaate foe us^ iot whieh 
the Russian fbrcea were again drtrea fram hefait 
the walls of Warsaw, the position of their mmf 
was as follows. Theii) right wi&g> farnied of iht 
teoiaina of the corps ef Giesmai and. Roseo^ WW 
a« Boimie; detachmests bein^ alao. plaaed iittW 



THE POLf9H llCTSLUTIOVr. 22& 

etiFirons of WMgrow* Tbe main bodj^ under 

DieMtsch, was at Kock. His adranced posts ex*- 

tended to Wodyaie^ Szetocsja^ and Zelsebow. 

Th6 Russiaa guard, wkich^ as we have said, bod 

formed the pl^ of joising tb^ir main bodj, and 

had left Ostraladui by the rood tbroagh Weagrow, 

was obliged^ in conse^ienee of the successes of onr 

aro^y t^ ^kmadom that plan^ and to retire again to 

tke envinm^ of OMroienka^ where thej now were 

posted* Iff the palatinate of Lublin was the R«a- 

sjan corps nMter general WitU 

The piksitioQ of oar a^rnj was as follows. Ou# 
left wkig was opposite Boimie. It sent e«t itis 
reocmaoissances along the river Kostrzjn, as ftur as 
Orombkow, Zimna'>>woda, and even beyond^ Tbfci 
bead^uarcefs of the general in chief Weie with 
the midn bodj, at Latowicc. Our right wing ^tras 
at Siennita* Its recouDoissamies were seal out as 
far as Zeleehow, at wbieh place was a detached 
corps, under the cottmand of general Piic« In tkii 
manner, the maishy rivers, Kostrzjn and Swider^ 
covered our front* {Refer to Fktn VI.] General 
Undnskt^ with his detached corps, was at Rozanj, 
ih the palatuMlte of Pleck^ opposed to the Rosmm 
guarA* In the enfrirons of the fortress of Zamosc 
in tfte palaidnafie iif LubK% opposed to the Russian 
corps of general Witty was the corps of general 
Dwemtekii Bdsides this, a small corps was placed 
iff the eftiifone of the town of Granica, upon the 
left bank of the Vistula, under tlve command of 
geuetal Sierawski. 



224 THE F0U6H RETQLUTIOM. 

While the roaiD forces were acting with sack 
success, the two detached corps, under generak 
Uminski and Dwernicki, had also fought glori- 
ously, and gained important advantages. The 
corps of general Dwemicki spread terror in its 
vicinity, and the Russians were compelled to send 
a new corps against him, under the command d* 
general Kreutz ; so that the combined Russiaii 
forces opposed to him amounted to 20,000 meo. 
Greatly superior as this force was, they did not dare 
to attack general Dwemicki, who, reinlbrced ever/ 
day by volunteers coming from Galida aad Voihy- 
nia, soon found himself at the head of 4,6^ meiit 
and 2Q pieces of cannon. This corps, in concert iiilVi 
the garrison of Zamosc, was sufficient to hold in 
check all the operations of th^ enemy in that quarter^ 

On the 25th of March, general Dwemicki sent 
a reconnoissance as far as the environs of Usdulogi 
at which place a new Russian corps, coming from 
Turkey, was expected to arrive. This reconaois-. 
sance was composed of two battalions of jnfontiy) 
mie company of Galician volunteers, three squad- 
rons of cavalry, and four pieces of oannop. The 
commander of this force was the brave cokmel 
Rttssyian. The detachment arrived at the above 
place, and received intell^ence of the approach of 
an advanc^ guard of the corps of general Rudigeri 
composed of two regiments or six battalions of in^ 
^ fantry, one regiment of cossacks, and eight pieces 
of cannon. Colonel Russyian did not stay for the 
approach of this guard. He took possession of tbfl 



THX POLISH ASTOLOTIOK. 225 

difWoDt batteaux which were prepared for/ and 
were waiting the aitival of the Russian force at 
the distance ci a league from the town. Passing 
the river Bug, with his corps, in these boats, he 
suddenly attaclied the Russian advanced guard 
with such success, that he took two thousand pris- 
oners, and six pieces of cannon, and several hun- 
dred horses. With these trophies he returned and 
joined the, corps, to their astonishment, for thej 
had received but a single report from him, and had 
BoJ^xpectation. of such results. The rumor of the 
continual siiccesses of this corps of general Dwer- 
nkki, spread along the borders of the Dnieper, 
reached the distant regions of our brethren in the 
Ukraine, and awakened in them an ardent desire 
to unite fheipselves to our cause. 

For the continued and glorious advantages of 
this corps, which co^imenced its operations with 
d,POO infantry, 800 cavalry, and three pieces of 
canBOB, and had nearly destroyed two Russian 
corps^ those of l^reutz and Wirtemberg, taking 
10,000 prisoners, and thirty pieces of cannon, the 
Botional government promoted its brave command- 
er to jtbe rank of full general of cavalry, and hon- 
ored him with the surname of the famous Caar- 
aecki, the ancient^ Polish chief.* 



t J— J" ^ 



^ OeBMral Dwernieki, who raoemd, aoKftig •cfairtides, tbMalM 
of the '^ Provider of oadhod," osed hii oaTftliy to eoottandy in tho 
ckwye Bpoa utiUery, that if the artillanr of the enemy begaa ito 
§ie, And tiie eharge wis ^ot ordered, our eiTalry were always dis^* 
ppiMHiited. This was Ae ease at the battle of Ksrow, on the Sd 



226 THS POLMH BEVOLimOfir* 



The general in ckief cMmranicated to gMMCal 
Dweniicki bis promotion, with the sincere thanks 
of the national governffient ; and mt the same time 
sent him instructions and advice in regard to die 
operations which be was then to Mlow. The 
corps of general Dwernicki was to manffiOFre in 
soefa a manner as to menace continoallj the left 
wing of the Russian grand army. Keeping thi» 
ol^ect in view, he was not, imless with the expec- 
tation €£ some rerj extraordinary sAt^B^ges, ta 
remore himself very far from the fortreBs o£ Zb-' 
mosc.' This place was to serve as a jmmiI JPifpui 
uk evtsy case of sadden dai^r. About ^bns f^iift 



of March. As the enemy iq that battle had placed his artillei; is 
a commandiDg position, and as general Dwernicki was awaiting 
the arrival of detachments under colonel Lagowdd, in tUe^firet- 
4qq of Befa^, 1m wqs not dispdaed tten to gvre the order fbr a 
charge, but preferred to amuse the enemy bgr yaripus manoeunia 
of his cavalry. Passing down the front of his lancers, he observed 
Aat tfae^ wore a look of dtssatisfactjoif . On noticing tliis, he w«tf 
^ftoBMh^, and dtmanded ah ext^iuMtioi. <'Wbat doatte 
meaU) my dear comrades?" said he ; " you are sad at a moment 
when, after so many victories, you 6ught to be joyful." The lan- 
oerer replied: ^' Dear genera], H Is an houif sinoe tlM ^neni^^ aitll> 
lory eomnaenced tbeif fire, and yo«L do -not allow u»to ohltf^ iipaa 
them." The general, smiling, answered, " MakjS yourselves con- 
tent ; you shall soon have that satisfaction ;" and in a s&ok-tiift) 
atftbe feadbr will remember, gederal DweMcliiv seeiag tbu ^ 
tachment of colonel Lagowski approeiohftii^ga^ M>e otfder ^ aa 
attack upon the enemy's artilleiy, and in a moment they were 
driven fVom their position, sabred, and ten pieces of their cannon 
taken. The Russiana,' to whom the name of Dwahlioki WU a 
ttttror, vrouM apeak of him in the Mh>wing maanef^ <* What ca» 
we makd of audi » geaeral ? He perfonte bo ttnoMMMtiea^ aoA 
M«rer pertnita our aitiilery to iro. Hia ^eoeiaMiiprappeaiv to li« 
Miy la takiag porisetoidw «t oaee of onr eatmon P> 



._J 



TBS rOLlSH EKTOLDTiON. 227 

lie was to manceurrf , and from thenee he wh to 
push himself, an circumstances might allow, into 
the enviroDS of Lublin and Wiodawa, lo trouble 
inceassntlj the abore mentioned wing, and eitm 
the rear of the Rnssnin grand armjr. In this in- 
struction of keeping himself near the fortress of 
ubiin generally, 
il : riz. that be 
rolvBteers fnMi 
ihreo, in those 
emselreB to kii 
victorious eagles, (of which disposition, indeed, he 
received continual evidence) and, in this manner, 
his corps would be gradual!}' increased by such 
aid from those provinces, without attracting the 
attention of the enemy. As the provinces of Vol- 
faynia and Podolia, from their geographical cbarac- 
. ter, having no large forests, were not in a state to 
carry on a partizan warfare, as was quite practica- 
ble in Lithuania and Samogitia, and also as the 
Russians had several corps upon the frontiers of 
Turkey, which, by being concentrated in that open 
country, might be dangerous to our small forces, 
general Skrzynecki was of the opbion that gen- 
eral Dwernicki, by keeping near the frontiers of 
the above mentioned provinces, should rather act 
by a moral influence upon their inhabitants, than 
hazard certain advantages by entering them. The 
river Wieprz was to be the leaning point of his left 
wing, and the river Bug of his right. Between 
those two rivers, m a woody and marshy region. 



228 THB POLISH RBYOLUTlOlf. 

be woald fiod many stroog natoral pomtiooHL Of 
such he would take advantage, and endeavor to 
strengthen them by different fortifications. Gen- 
eral Dwemicki, in receiving these instmctionsi 
was also invested with full powers, by the natioDal 
government, to institute a provisional administn- 
tion over the above provinces, (in case that cir- 
cumstances should lead him to establish a feotiof 
there,) similar to that of the kingdom in geoerali 
and to bring them into a state to act with effect nl 
concert with the rest of the kingdom. 



CHAPTER XIV. 

The iunmctioii ia Littnunii. — DwpoaitioD) of the Lithtuutu it the bcMkilf 
outofoui reTaluIion. — Their olFeni or co-opention were rejected by the dic- 
tator.— View of the condiiion of LithDuia under the Ranianiwir^-Sebein* 
Poliib utioinl feeliog in thatpro- 
i( bj the muiacie of the pitriou it 
ij tiie iuMiTgenta, ud dUpenioa of 
i>ei7 of priionen, — Soienl peitiua 



thus far to make the 
y point, a just cbastise- 
meat of our enemy, and encouraged hy this suc- 
cess, the nation had begun to cherish the brightest 
hopes for the future. Their confidence and ex- 
ultation were complete, when the report was re- 
ceived, ibai our brethren in Lithuania and Samo- 
gitia bad risen to break the yoke, of despotism, and 
had openly commenced a revolution. The certain 
confirmation of this happy intelligence was brought 
to the kingdom by one of the students of the Uni- 
versity of Wilna. This brave young man belonged 
to the patriotic club which had been secretly form- 
ed there, and that club had sent him to Warsaw 
to carry the authentic intelligence of the insur- 
rection.* 

* The jroDQg LitbuaniHD, whose name wai Szymanaki, bad 
passed, on foot, Itro hundred and eighty miles in eight dajs, in 
the vilest habit of a Iicggar, and even without shoes, through for- 
osla, raarshea, and forda, to avoid interception, exposed in fact to 
every Icind of 'privation. He arrived on the 4th of April, at the 
camp of the generalissimo, at Jendrzeiow, where he was received 
with great entbuaiasm. Ho was immediately sent to Warsaw, to 
announce the happy inteihgenee to the people. 

29 



230 THE POLISH REVOLUTIOH. 

Then it was, at last, that the voice of libertj 
was heard upon the shores of the Baltic, and at 
the sources of the Dwina and the Niemen ; and 
with this voice, was heard that of union with ao- 
cient Poland. The brave inhabitants of this im- 
mense region, animated with an attachment for 
US, the strength of which ages had proved, regarded 
themselves only as a part of one great family with* 
ourselves. Almost within hearing of the bloody 
combats which had been fought, they couid aot 
restrain themselves from joining in ibe struggle, 
and acting side by side with us, for our cominoa 
Poland. 

Before I enter upon the details of this levoW 
tioa in Lithuania, the reader will permit me to re- 
fer him, in the Appendix, to a short description of 
that country and a view of its connexion with 
Poland, which is, in general, so imperfectly under- 
stood. 

The Lithuanians of Wilna knew, four days after 
the 29th of November, that Warsaw had given the 
signal of a new Polish insurrection. A deputa- 
tion was immediately sent by them to the dictator 
Chlopicki, announcing to him that all Lithuania^ 
and particularly the Lithuanian corps (Parmee^ of 
60,000 strongs was ready to pa^s to the side of the 
Poles. But that inexplicable and lamentable dic- 
tatorship rejected this offer^ so great and so gener- 
ous. The Lithuanians, however, not despairingy 
waited for a more propitious moment ; and scarcely 
was the dictatorship abolished, when the national 



THE POLISH KCYOLUTION. 231 

goTernment, — ^thanks to the thoughtful care of 
Joachim Lelewell, — addressed itself officially to 
the Lithuanian committee. Every disposition was 
made for a rising at an appointed time, which at 
length arrived. 

It would not be in my power to give the reader 
a just idea of the tyranny and persecution to which 
the Polish provinces united to Russia were sub- 
jected. If the kingdom was oppressed, it has 
always bad some glimmer of constitutional right, 
bat in the provinces the only .constitution was ab- 
solute power. Those provinces, abounding in re- 
sources, and which, had they been protected by 
free laws, would have been, as they formerly were, 
the granary of Europe, presented every where 
traces of misery, being exposed to the abuses of 
the Russian administration and its agents, who 
wrung them to the last drop, to enrich themselves. 
Justice was unknown. Sometimes the governors, 
or sprawnaks, men of most depraved conduct, 
changed the laws at their own will, and not to 
obey that will was to be subject to be sent into 
Siberia. All those provinces were submerged by 
the Russian military, who were quartered in every 
village ; and those soldiers, receiving only the 
small compensation of a groat a day, which was 
altogether insufficient for their subsistence, levied 
upon the inhabitants the means of their support. 
But the cause of the greatest suffering in Lithu- 
ania, was, that, in order to prevent all sympathy 
between the soldiers and peasantry, and all na- 



232 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 

tional feeling in tlie Lithuanian soldiers, most of 
the levies from that province were sent to serve on 
the barbarian frontiers of Asia, while Russian sol- 
diers were substituted for them, who were with- 
out any sympathy with the inhabitants, and who 
would be regardless of their feelings in their de- 
portment towards them, and merciless in their 
exactions. It was not so under Alexander, — the 
arrangement was made by Nicholas. No idea can 
be given of the distress which it caused. Maay a 
family was obliged to deny themselves tbeir ueces- 
sary food, to supply the demands of the military 
tyrant who was quartered upon them. Tbe peas- 
antry in those provinces were treated like brutes. 
No civilization, not the least glimmer of light, sot 
a school was permitted. That pocr race were 
kept in a state so degraded, that the elements of 
civilization seemed to be lost in them, and the 
possibility of their being recovered seemed almost 
hopeless. 

One of the greatest evils was the systematic 
endeavor to destroy all national sympathy with 
Poland. The Russians carried their oppression, 
indeed, so far, as to change the religion of the 
country, and to introduce the Greek schism. But 
through all these persecutions. Providence saved , 
that people from losing their national sentiments 
as Poles. On the contrary, they have proved that 
neither time nor persecutions will ever destroy 
that attachment, but will, indeed, rather strengthen 
it. The late insurrections in Lithuania and Samo- 



THE POLISH mSTOLUTIOIf. 23S 

gitia, which have been so long under the Russian 
government, and the inhabitants of which hastened 
to take up their arms, at the signal of our revolu- 
tion, afford a sufficient evidence of this attachment. 
What deserves especially to be noticed; is, that ib 
Lithuania, it was the peasants and the priests, 
joined by the youths of the academies, who first 
began the revolt, and who were the most zealous 
defenders of the common cause. That heroic peo* 
p)e commenced the revolution without any muni- 
tions, and without any arms but the implements of 
husbandry. Armed in most cases with clubs alone, 
they abandoned^ll to unite in our aid, and fought 
with courage and success for nearly two months, 
against the different Russian corps, before the 
corps of Gielgud and Chlapowski arrive<], which, 
instead of succoring them, by the misconduct of 
their generals, sacrificed the Lithuanians, as well 
as themselves, and gave the first downward impulse 
to our cause. 

The insurrection of Lithuania and Samogitia, 
was propagated with rapidity through all the de« 
partmedts of those provinces. The commence* 
vient was made in the departments of Osmianj 
and Troki, accelerated by the following circum- 
stance. 

Many of the patriots, for the purpose of consult- 
ing upon the different arrangements for the revolt, 
Ipid secretly assembled on the last of March at 
Oamiany, and held their secret conferences in the 
church of the place. While occupied in thte man- 



234 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 

ner, a loud shouting was heard in the town. A 
regiment of cossacks had entered the place, and a 
great part of the regiment surrounded the church. 
The doors were broken down, and the cossacks 
entered atld sabred the unfortunate men witliii 
these sacred walls. Wounded as they were, thoa 
who survived the attack were thrown into wagons 
to be carried to Wilna*. But in this the barbariafl5 
did not succeed. A few escaped from their bloody 
hands, ran into the suburbs of the town and col- 
lected the peasantry, and on that very Digbt, some 
hundreds of the inhabitants having been got toge- 
ther, Osmiany was attacked with ihe greatest fory 
by the patriots. Several hundreds of.cossacVs 
were massacred. The others took flight, and the 
poor prisoners were delivered. From that moment 
the flame spread to the departments of Wilna, Wil- 
komierz, Rosseyny, and Szawla. in a few weeks, 
more than twelve towns were taken by storm, and 
the Russian garrisons driven out and dispersed. 
The principal of these towns were Jarbourg, Szaw- 
la, Keydany, Wilcomierz, Kowno, Troki, SwicB- 
ciany, Rossienice and Beysagola. In a short time, 
more than a thousand Rusmns fell under the 
blows of the Lithuanians, ^d another thousand 
were taken prisoners. The^Lithuanians accoutred 
themselves with their arms. Some hundred horses 
and several pieces of cannon wete also taken. The 
most bloody affair was the storm of Wilna, on the 
night of the 4th of April. Two hundred Lithua- 
nians attacked this town, and fought with 4,000 



^ 



THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 236 

Russrip infantryt (nearly two regiments,) six 
squadrons of cavalryi and twelve pieces of cannon. 
For the whole night, the Lithuanians pressed their 
attack with fu^y. They took the powder maga- 
zifte^ and arsenal, where they found many arms. 
But the m6st consolatory success was, the rescuing 
of some hundred patriotic students and proprietors, 
wh J had been confined in prison there for years. 
The battle of Keydany and Szerwinty was also 
severe, and the valor of the brave Lithuanians was 
equally displayed there. At Keydany, twenty of 
the 15rave youths of the academy defended the 
bridge over the Niewiaza, against two squadrons 
of cavalry, while, on the other side, some hun- 
dreds of those brave youths madJ a storm upon 
the city, and routed the garrison, which consisted 
of three squadrons of hussars. In a word, not quite 
2,000 Lithuanians, armed in the most defective 
aianner, commenced the struggle, and drove out 
garrisons to the amount of eight or ten thousand 
Russian regular troops, spreading consternation 
throughout the whole of the enormous space be- 
tween the Dwina and the Niemen. Their num- 
bers were soon augmented, and armed with wea- 
pons taken from the Russians. Their forces were 
afterwards divided into several small detached par- 
tizan corps, which received the following destina- 
tion. 1st, the corps under the command of B***, 
consisting of about 1,600 infantry and 100 horse, 
was to observe the territory upon the Russian 
frontier, between Jarbourg, upon the Nieman, as 



236 THE POLISH REYOLUtlON^ « 

fSsir as the frontier of Courland. This corps was 
to interrupt the 'transport of provisions from tlie 
Russian territory, and also to keep a cotnmuniea- 
tion between the ports of the BaUfeT Sea, Lipawa, 
and Polonga, so as to secure a correspond enceVfdi 
foreign vessels virhich might arrive wl?h ammuiii- 
tion and other aid for Poland. The 2a corps coo- 
sisted of »bout 2,000 infantry, under the commBod 
of P***, and Z***, and were to act between Uc^ 
amy and Dawgeliszki. There this corps of parti- 
zans was to profit by the strong positions which 
the nature of the country ofiers, among its lakes 
and forests. This corps was to observe t\ie gteat 
road which leads through that country from St. • 
Petersburgh to Warsaw, and to surprise and attack 
all the Russian detachments which might pass that 
road, on their way to Poland. 

To act in communication with this corps, and 
against the garrison of Wilna, was designated a 
3d corps, under the command of M***, composed 
of nearly 2,000 infantry and 100 cavalry. This 
corps made itself severely felt. A fourth small 
detachment, under the command of B***, of aboat 
800 strong, acted in the department of Grodno, 
and occupied a part of the forest of Bialowiez. 

Besides these, was a detachment of 400 horse, 
under the command of V***. This detachment 
was constantly in movement, and kept open the 
communications between the other corps, and acted 
as occasion required. It was especially to attempt 
to surprise the enemy's artillery, which was often 



» THE POLISH RETOLDTION. 2d7 

sept in an uapRtwted state. This detachment of 
cavalry, with thefirst named corpS under the com- 
• mand nf B***, attacked so sudden and rigorously 
the command of general 
a forced to take refuge 
y at Menel. The Prus- 
fterwards permitted them 
and aoimuoitittn. This 
last example of such' re- 
' by Prussia. 

lilhuania and Samogitia, 

essfully and promised to 

's of the Dnieper and the 

• threaten the utmost dan- 

is which had entered the 

m this moment that the 

ecame in a high degree 

critical, as every military judge will perceive. 

The danger of their position was still more to be 

augmented by our success in the battle of Igani, 

CD the 9th of April. 




CHAPTER XV. 

Plan of operation against Uie two oorpa of Roaon and Krei^t 
— Reflections on the state of the Polish cause aller tH^ 
Review ef the coarse of the campaign.*-CoDditioB of llpp 
Discontents in Russia. — Representations of the Senate ^Ni^^ 
the Emperor. — Comparative view of the forces of the two ardRrf wHBk pzet- 
ent stage of 4he conflict. 

Marshal Diebitsch, as is known to the readetf 
was forced, by our victories of the 31st of March 
and the 1st of April, to abandon his plan of pMfrgT 
the Vistula opposite to KoEienice, and lo AmKof 
nothing further at present, than of saving \\ie lvj<i ^ 
corps of Rosen and Giesnmr, and the guard. He 
was so far separated from them while between 
Kock and Ryk, where he then was, that "by a 
prompt diversion on our part, by Lukow* he might 
have lost those corps, and it was in fear of this, 
that be hastened to arrive as soon as possible to 
their succor at SiedFce^ Our general in chief 
thought to anticipate this movement, and to throw 
himself upon the combined corps of Giesmar and 
Rosen, before Diebitsch shd|ld reach them*^* 

** Every military reader, who shall foHow, with strict atteotioii, 
the plans of our general in strategy and taedcs, will be astonished, 
perhaps, that after such victories as those of the 81st of March and 
the 1st of April, he should have abandoned the advantages which 
he might have gained, in following up, immediately^ his ofjera- 
tions upon the two corps of Rosen and Giesmar, and then throw- 
ing himself rapidly upon the superior forces of Diebitsch, which, 
after those corps Were cut off, could, by a simultaneous diveraion 
upon Zelochow and Lukow, [See Phn], have been attacked on bodi 



THE FOUSH" REVOLUTION. tSS) 

BATTLE OF IGANI. [5m PItm* XX. imd XXI.] 

Od the 9(h of^Afril, the Uussiao army was 
nearly in the same positioD as we hare last de- 
\a hody, under marshal 
avirons of Kock, and the 
aod Giesmar \_Plan XX. 
ill river Kostrzyn (6), at 
had not changed its po- 

e disposition^JfoT the at- 
xamining the plan, will 
see that the two corps opposed to our forces, which 
were at LatowicE (c), were too far advanced, 
which exposed them to be turned on their lef^ 
wii^ and even taken in the rear, if our forces 
there should succeed in driving back the forces 
(e^ of the enemy on the road (d) from Latowicz 
by Wodynia to Siedlce. To execute this move- 
ment the order was given that when the first divi- 
sion of infantry (f), supported by twenty-four 
pieces of cannon, should commence the attack 
upon the great road opposite Boimie, the third 
division (g), having with them the brigade of cav- 
alry of Kicki, should leave the position at Latowicz 

sides, and thrown into conf\ieion. Although I cannot give a Mt- 
iBfsctoi7 explanation of this apparent fault, it mnat^te considered, 
that those Bubaequent events which give a color to the imputation, 
could not, perhaps, have then been reasonably anticipated hf the 
general ; and the talent so nnirormlj displayed by Slirzynechi 
should force ns to suppose that there were.aoncia ooncluaive ob- 
jections to such a course, occurring to liis ntind, which are not 
now apparent to the obderrer. 



240 . TH£ POLldH REVOLUTlOn. 

before day-break, and take the direction of Wody- 
nia, to attack the forces which it might find there; 
but if those forces should be f6fyd greatly stuperior, 
the division was to remain in a strong <fK>sitioD at 
Jeruzalem (h). If it should succeed in drini^ 
back the; enemy's forces, it was to take the nai/ 
pa the left, leading from Wodynia through Igam 
(i) to Siedlce. Every effort was to be directed to 
the point of arriving as soon as possible upon tlia 
dyke (A;) at Igani, which leads over the warsbes of 
the river Uppba (/)• By a prompt maoo^arre of this 
kind, the enemy could not, as we hafe said, escape 
being turned* For the bet tier executioB of Chis pba, 
the enemy was to be harassed on the main ioad>m 
order that general Propdzynski, who was to com- 
mand the expedition to Wodynia, might hav^Bie 
to manoeuvre upon the enemy's flank. 

A division ,of cavalry (m), under the command 
of general Stryinski, was to leave Boimie, and 
take a direction on the left, towards the village of 
Gruski, to pass there the fords of the river Kostrzya, 
and in case of the retreat of the enemy, to fall 
upon his right wing. 

Having issued these instructions, and confided 
the command of the little corps which was to act 
upon the enemy's left wing at Wodynia, to general 
Prondzynski, the general in chief left himself for 
Boimie, to lead the attack in person upon the main 
road. As was the case in the position at Boimie, 
[Refer to Plan II.], we were separated from the 
enemy by the marshes of the river Kostrzyn. Tbe 



* THE P01.I8H REVOLUTION. 241 

two raised bridges upon the dyke not permitting 
either oursel^res or the enemy to pass, general 
'^rzjnecki contej^^d himself with opening a fire 
of artillery upon the Russian position, in order to 
occupy the attention of the enemy, while prepara- 

- tioBs were making to repak the bridges sufi&cienlty 
to admit a passage. 

The moment that the work of reconstructing 
the bridges was to be put in execution, was to be 
decided by the time and the direction in which the 
fire of general Prondzynski should be#heard. If 
the latter general should succeed on the enemy's 

* flank, then, of course, the bridges were to be re- 
constructed ; if not, they were to remain in their 
present state to obstruct the passage of the enemy. 
Sei?«ral hours were occupied by this fire of artil- 
lery, and slight manoeuvres of the light troops, 
when at last, between eight and nine o'clock, the 
fire of general Prondzynski was heard, who had 
evidently passed Wodynia, and had begun acting 
on the enemy's flank. This was the signal to 
commence repairing the bridges. General Skrzy- 
necki, with his suite, superintended the work, and 
several battalions were employed in bringing to- 
gether the materials. A degree of consternation 
was observed in the enemy's forces, in consequence 
of the attack on his flank, and his columns began 
a movement ; but his artillery continued in their 
position, and commenced a terrible fire upon our 
men who were engaged in reconstructing the 
bridges. The presence of mind, however, of the 



242 THE POLISH REVOLDTION. • 

general in chief, who exposed himself at the most 
dangerous points, encouraged the men to perse- 
vere in their labors under this^ destructive fire ot 
artillery.*^ When the fire on his flank was at its 
height, the enemy began to withdraw his artillerr, 
and commenced a retreat. By between lOtof* 
1 1 o'clock no part of the enemy's forces were re- 
maining upon the plain of Boimie ; but, altboogli 
the work of repairing the bridges was pressed to 
the utmost, it was near two o'clock before tbej 
could be taiEOUght to such a state as to admit the ^ 
passage of artillery ; and although several battal- 
ions of the infantry had passed over beiote this, * 
they were not able, without too much exposuie, 
to overtake the enemy, who was in rapid retreat, 
leaving his cavalry as a rear guard. It was^not 
until the last mentioned hour, that the whole divi- 
sion passed the bridges, and pressed forward at a 
rapid pace in the pursuit, the cavalry advancing 
upon the trot. While this was taking place upon 
the great road to Boimie, general Prondzynski 

*. No terms can express the admiraUe conduct of our com- 
mander and his suite, who directed the work of reconstmctiDg 
these bridges, in person. The general and his officers all la- 
bored with their own hands at this important task. Some of them 
were wounded. Our brave soldiers, witnessing the fine example 
of their chief, shouted their patriotic songs^^ as they worked, under 
this destructive fire. While a party were placing some trunks of 
trees, a shell fell among' them. To have lefl their labor in order 
to avoid the danger, would have delayed the work ; (bey therefore 
remained in their places, and with the noise of the explosion was 
mingled the shout of <* Poland forever !" Providence granted that 
in that exposed labor our loss was very inconsiderable. 



^ TH£ EjOlish revolution. 243 

[Plan XXL (A)J who, according to bis instruc* 
tioDs, advanced to Wod jnia, found there a division 
^ sixteen squadroq^ of Russian cavalry, whom he 
drove from their position : be pursued tltem in the 
directi(tn of Sie^lce, and reached the environs of 
I Ig^i» y^here he saw the corps of Rosen and Gies- 
mar •(B) in full retreat. At this moment the posi- 
tion of general Prondzynski was also critical ; for, 
as the reader is already^ aware, our maift army was 
not in a condition to foUow the enemy, on account 
of the obstruction from the broken bridges. If the 
einfuv liad thrown himself upon Prondzynski, thoy 
could have crushed iiJif«, ?.v/J with their oth'dt 
forces could have safely passed the dyke (a) at 
Igani, before our main forces, retarded as they 
wer^ could have arrived. This danger was per- 
ceived by Prondzynski, and he therefore contented 
himself with driving the division of Russian cav- 
alry (C) from a position they had taken upon the 
heights of Igani, (a task which was bravely exe- 
cuted by the cavalry of Kicki, and in which the 
colonel Myci^lski was wounded,) and occupying 
that position himself, placing there the brigade of 
Romarino to defend it. 

It was between four and five o'clock that Prond- 
zynski first perceived our lancers (D) advancing 
upon the main road. A great part of the enemy, 
particularly of their cavalry, had not yet passed 
the dyke (^, being obstructed by their artillery. 
Generals Prondzynski and Romarino, dismounting 
from their horses, with carbines in their hands. 



244 THE POLISH RSTOL^XIOlf. ^ 

placed tbemselves at the head, of their cdomiiSy 
and comtnenced a fire at artillery, to apprize oat 
advancing cavalry of their position. At the soodP 
of this firf^- the cavalry of Lubinski raised the hor- 
ran, rushed forward, and as they ^pproacK^ Bear 
the brigade of Romarino^ threw themselves a^tk* 
charge upon that portion of the enemy's rear ^ari 
whiclr had not yet passed the dyke. Our infantiy 
and cavalry^ thus fell simultaneously upon them, 
the enemy were terribly ciH up, and the battle w^f 
gained. Nearly five Russian battalions, amcfn!- 
ing to 4,000 men, with their oflScers. t 
to tii^iT one hvn^r^dj their standards, '•■ 

pieces of cannon of large calibre, vrere ts&ctR ^ix 
regiments of cavalry were dispersed, many of them 
were lost in the marshes of the river into ifbicli 
they were driven, and several hundred men and 
horses were taken prisoners there. In this battle, 
which may be counted one of the finest in the 
campaign, the circumstance that our main foree 
was retarded by the state of the bridges, alone 
saved the enemy from total ruin. It is to be re* 
marked that the 2d division of cavalry of general 
Stryinski, did not improve its time, and effected 
nothing upon the right flank of the enemy, as the 
instructions contemplated. The negligence of that 
general was inexcusable, and the commander in 
chief deprived him of his command. We lost in 
this battle about five hundred men, iji killed and 
wounded. The brave general Prondzynski was 
slightly wounded. Before night the two aftnies 



« THE FOi-tSH RSyOLDTION* 346 

yf9&t not at the dbtance of a cannon-shot from 
each other, but all was tranquil* The disorder and 
^l^vsternation of the enemy niajr be imagined, 
^rhea it^s stated that our columns tqill position 
before thel^ eyes^ on the. field of Igani, wkhoui 
• being in the least disturbed bj them* 

The reader will permit me to fix his attention 
up9n the epoch of the battle of Iganit which was 
indeed the brightest moment of our war, the mo^ 
ment of the highest success of the Polish arms, the 
moment of the most confident hopes, when every 
Pole in imagination saw his country already n^ 
.stored to her anqient glory. . Let us thcUi, from 
this point, cast a look backwards to the commence- 
ment of this terrible contest. Two months before, 
an enormous Russian force had invaded our coun- 
try, defended as it was by a mere handful of her 
sons; and any one who had seen that immense 
army enter upon our soil, could not but have looked 
on Poland with commiseration, as about to be in- 
stantaneously annihilated. In this expectation, in 
fact, all Europe looked on, and at every moment 
the world expected to hear of the terrible catastro- 
phe, — to see Poland 'again in chains, and the Rus- 
sian arms reposing on the borders of the Rhine. 
Such, in fact, were the expectations and even the 
promises of marshal Diebitsch. Providence, how- 
ever, willed otherwise. The first shock of the Po- 
lish arms with the Russians taught the latter what 
was the moral strength of patriotism,— what a 
nation can do for love of country and of liberty. 

31 



246 THS FOUSH RETOLCTTMll. 

The fields of Siedlce, Dobre, and Stocaek, the fim 
witnesses of our triumphs, and the grave of so 
maDj of our eoemiest taught them to respect ttti 
nation wlleh they expected to subdue, or^iide them 
repent the audacity of having passed o^ frontiefs, 
and gave them a terrible presage of bovr dead; 
they would have to pay for this unjust iovasiofi of 
our soil. Battle upon battle was given, in w^prh 
the enemy were uniformly subjected to the sever- 
est losses. The two great roads leading from dif- 
ferent directions to Warsaw, on which the/ bad 
followed the Poles, were covered with their dead. 
Thus subjected to loss at every step, th^ eaemj 
reached at last the field of Praga, and there c«\- 
lecting all his forces in one body, under a tremen- 
dous fire of artillery, he thought to overpower our 
small forces. But he failed to do it. The imoKNr- 
tal day of the 25ch of February was nearly the 
destruction of bis enormous force, and, after fifteen 
days of severe fighting, that great army, which was 
designed to destroy Poland and to make Europe 
tremble, was brought to a state of extremity. The 
autocrat and his general blushed at the menaces 
which they -had uttered* Poland believed that the 
former would reflect upon those bloody struggles 
and the immense losses which he had sufferedt ^ 
would be unwilling to continue such sacrifices. 
Nearly 60,000 Russians were already sacrificed. 
How many more lives might he iiot still lose? 
The Poles, although conquerors, held out the hand 
of reconciliation, as the letters that Skrzynecki 



THK POLISH R£VOX.UTION. 247 

addressed to Diebitseh have proved. In those let* 

ters, written with the utmost cordiality, fraDkness, 

atid dire<!tnesS) he invited the Russian commander 

to present the real state of things to thf monarch, 

and to assure him that the Poles longed to put an 

end to this fraternal struggle. A word of justice, 

of good will, indicative of a dispositkmio act*for 

thp happin^s of the nation, and to observe the 

privileges which the constitution granted,— «a word 

of this nature, from the lips of the monarch, would 

bave disarmed the Poles, blood would have ceased 

to flow, and those arms outstretched for the fight, 

wouM have thrown awaj the sabre, and would 

have been extended towards him as to a father,-^ 

to him, the author of a happy reconciliation. He 

would have been immortalized in history, and 

would have taken a place by the side of Titus. 

Far, however, from that true and noble course, 
that proud autocrat, as well as hb servant, Die- 
bitseh, thought little of the thousands of humaM 
beings he was sacrificing ; — far from such magnani- 
mous conduct, he sent for other thousands to be 
sacrificed, to gratify his arrogance and ambition. 
He contrives new plan's to pass the Vistula. It 
was not enough to have covered four palatinates 
with ruin on one side of that river. He deter- 
mines to spread devastation and ruin upon the 
other also : — in fine, to attack Warsaw, and bury 
in its own ruins that beautiful capital, the residence 
of the successors of Piast and Jagellow, and where 
be himself could bave reigned in tranquillity, by 



248 fOi vMAfM iicv<ium<nv# 

«tfy faaTing bem just and good. In the exectttkn 
of thi» plao «f desiriK^tioB^ he was arrested and 
justly pffiMbed «pon the gloriom days ef the 31 si 
of March and the 1st erf April, wbieh, In emf^c- 
tion with the recent rerduiioos in Liihuanki aad 
Samogitia, and the recent battle of Igaai, seemel 
lO'threatM the ruin of his army. 

The Russian army was • now in a atate of ike 
greatest disaflfection, • being posted in a devastated 
cooatry, and having their resources for snbsisteDce 
entirely cut off by the state of Lithuania am/ Saanh 
giiisu In addition to their immense losses in ac- 
tion, fatigue, sickness, and other incoaveiAeiices 
bad redttoed thend to a state of extreme distte^. 
Besides the influence of physical evils, there was 
a moral influence which impaired their strength, 
arising from a conviction which they could not 
avoid feeling, of the justice of the Polish cause. 
The Russian soldiers began also to reflect, that 
by thus serving the ends of despotism, they were 
only securing the conthiusuice of their own servi- 
tude. Tbese ir^lections were not made • by the 
army alone,- but, as we were secretly advised bj 
persons coming from the interior of Russia, ^y 
were made there also, and were accompanied with 
the same sentiments of discontent. At St. Peters- 
burg, as well as at Moscow, various discontents 
were manifested, and notices of such must have 
met the eye of ^the reader in the journals of the 
day. Tbe senate of St. Petersburg presented to 
the consideration of the monarch the eontiaual 



THB POLISH R£yOLUTION. 249 

severe losses of the preceding years, in the wars 
with Persia and Turkey, and those of this cam- 
paign, (though much Underrated bj them,) which 
tbej bad reason to fear would be stilf increased, 
and whieb might encourage revolutions in alt the 
provinces. For these reasons the senate took upon 
themselves to advise some propitiatorj^ measures, 
Mid some attempt by concessions to satisfy the 
demands of the Poles. The party most seafous in 
fiivor-of such a course was composed of those who 
bad relations and friends exiled to Siberia, on 
account of the revolutionary movement of 1826* 
The Russian patriots in general, not only thought 
it a favorable moment to attempt to effect an ame^ 
Horation of the fete of those individuals, but they 
hoped that the restoration of their ancient consti- 
tutional privileges and nationality to the Polish 
provinces attached to Russia, would authorize a 
claim for equal privileges to the people of the 
whole Russian empire. 

To these circumstances, is to be added that at 
this time the other cabinets began to feel dissatis- 
fied at the course of Russia, and decidedly reftised 
the requests of aid in men and money which she 
made on the pretext of former treaties. Every 
thing, in fine, seemed to promise a near end of the 
present difficulties. The Polish army, to whom 
this state of things was well known, waited impa- 
tiently for the moment of a decisive contest. One 
victory more, and the Russians would not be in a 
state to push their attempts further. Nothing 



260 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 

could then stop the progress of our arms, which 
would rest on the borders of the Doieper, the only 
froDtier known to our ancestors. One struggle 
more, and the darknesp of ages, which had huag 
over the Polish provinces of the North, wouM be 
dispersed* The light of civilization would then 
spread its rays as far as the Ural mountains, and 
wifh that civilization a new happiness would cheer 
those immense regions. Upon the borders of the 
Dnieper fraternal nations would hold out tlieir 
hands towards us, and there, would be made the 
great appeal : ** Russians ! whj all this msery ? 
The iPoles wish to deprive you of nothing, liay, 
they have even sacrificed their children for yout 
good. Russians ! awake to a sense of your condi- 
tion ! You, like us, are only the unhappy victims 
of the relentless will of those who find their account 
in oppressing you and us. Let Qs end this strug- 
gle, caused by despotism alone. Let it be our 
comnion aim to rid ourselves of its cruel power. 
It is despotism alone that we have any interest in 
fighting against. Let us mark these frontiers, 
which so much fraternal blood has been shed to 
regain, by monuments, that shall tell posterityy 
that here ended forever the contest between bro- 
thers, which shall recall the disasters that despot- 
ism has caused, and be a memorial of eternal 
friendship between, us, and of eternal warning to 
tyranny.'' 



THK POLISH REVOLUTION. 251 



A COM PAmATITK TIKW 09 THE FORCE OF VHE TWO AEllIBt AFTEm 

* 

THE BATTLE OF lOAHI. 

The Russian forces^ which commeDced the con- 
test on the 10th of December, amounted, as has 
been before stated, to about 200,000 men and SOO 
pieces of cannon. That army received two rein- 
forcements, viz. the corps of general prince Sza- 
ebowski, consisting of 20,000 men, and 96 pieces 
of cannon ; and the corps of the imperial guard, 
consisting also of 20,000 men and 36 pieces of 
cannon. The whole Russian force, then, which 
had fought against us, amounted to 240,000 men, 
and 372 pieces of cannon. 

To act against this force, our arm^, counting 
the reinforcements of 6000 men which it received 
before the battle of Grochow, had in service about 
50,000 men, and about 100 pieces of cannon. 
Up to the battle of Igani, fifteen principal battles 
had been given, viz. those of Stoczek, Dobre, 
Milosna, Swierza and Nowawies, Bialolenka (on 
the 20th and 24th), Grochow (on the 20th and 
26th), Nasielsk, Pulawa, Kurow, Wawr (on the 
18th and 3 1st), Dembe-Wielkie and Igani. To 
these are to be added a great number of small 
skirmishes, in not one of which could it have been 
said that the Russians were successful. By their 
own official reports, — after the battle of Grochow, 
more than fifty thousand Russians were hors du 
combat It will notf» then, be an exaggeration to 
say, that their whole loss, taking into the account 



262 THE POLISH REYOLUTION. 

prisoners and those who fell under the ravages of 
the cholera, which had begun to extend itself ia 
their army, must have amounted to between 80,000 
and 100,000 men** From the enormous park of 

* I cannot pretend to gite the reader an accurate idea of tbi 
number of prisoners which were taken during the first dajs of 
April. From the battle of Wavre to that of Igani, not a day 
parsed in which great numbers of them, with baggage and efieets 
of all kinds, were not brought in. They must have amounted ia . 
that interval to full 16«000. Those prisoners arriFed genersUj 
without escort, and it was often the case that old men Mod even 
women of the peasantry were seen leiuling them, or ncfter sfrow- 
iBg them the way, — two or three peasants^ perhapf, mtb twenty 
prisoners. This continual influx of prisoners gave a name in hct 
to that interval of time, which was referred to, as " ^ Penod 
of the Prisoners." The inhabitants of Warsaw foond an tnwn- 
ment in witnessing this continuM arrival of the cajmired Rnisiinft. 
*' Let us go tS Praga, to see the prisoners brought in," was a pro- 
position often made, as referring to an ordinary recreation whidi 
might be counted on with perfect certainty. If, for a half day, no 
prisoners .appeared, the complaint would be sportive^ aoade, 
"What is Mr. John about, (referring to Skrzynecki,) that he 
sends us no prisoners to-day ?" 

The great number of the prisoners engaged the attentioo of ^ 
national government. It was impossible to leave them all at 
Warsaw ; and they were at first divided into three parts, one of 
which remained in Warsaw to work upon the ibrtificatiom, and 
every soldier was paid for his labor. The second part being mbo 
employed upon wages, labored on the great roads leading firoa 
Warsaw, in a direction opposite to the seat of the war. The 
third part were dis)>ersed among the farmers in the proportion of 
one Russian for three farmers ; and these were also paid for their 
labor. At stated times, an assemblage of the prisoners was held, 
in which they were addressed in such a manner as to produce a 
moral effect upon them. They were instnftcted in die tme Datore 
of their political rights ; the real causes of the contest were ex- 
hibited to them, and they were made to be convinced that it was 
for their advantage as well as our own that we were fighting. 



TH£ POLISH REVOLUTION. 253 

US, they lost as many as sixty pieces. It may then 
be presumed that the Russian army remained at 
between 130,000 and 150,000 men, and about 240 
pieces of cannon, not estimating, however, which 
it would be impovssible to do, the number of cannon 
which might have been dismounted. Our army, 
which was reorganized at Warsaw, after its losses, 
was brought to about the same state as at the com- 
mencement of the war, that is, about 40,000 strong. 
The artillery was now augmented to 140 pieces. 

Although the enemy's force was still su£Sciently 
imposing, the reader will permit me to say, (and 
in fact we did reasonably calculate thus) that as 
we had fought, with sndk success, against the 
OBemy in his unimpaired strength, we might with 
confidence promise ourselves a certain issue of the 
conflict in our favor, when, with his forces thus 
diminished in numbers, sick, discouraged, and dis- 
contented, we could meet him with the same and 
even ia stronger force than that with which we had 
ahready been victorious, animated too, as we now 
were, by the inspiriting influence of our past suc- 
cess, and aided by the terror with which our arms 
had inspired the enemy. 

The greatest harmony reigned between the Poles and their pri- 
' aoners ; and I am sure that those Russians will remember the days 
they passed as prisoners, as the happiest in their lives. With us 
their prison was a state of fVeedom and tranquillity, in which they 
received a liberal reward fbr their lab«r, while in their own coun- 
try they were the slaves of despots, great and little, to whom obe- 
dience was enforced by the knout. ^ 

32 



CHAPTER XVI. 

Potition of the two armiei after the battle of Iganiv— Plan of a simultaneoas air 
tack npon the Rossian fbreei upon opposite aides. — Instnictioiis to the dtf- 
ferent corps. — Operations on the enemy's fh>ht. — Unfortunate opermtioas tf 
general Sierawski, and the fir$t dtfeat. — Details of those operations^^Open> 
tions of general Dwemicki. — He defeats Rudiger; bat by a false operatioa 
exposes himself to be attacked disadvantageonslj bj two Rossian coips.— la 
the coorse of the action the Anstrian frontier is passed by the combatiolM- 
An Anstrian force interposes, and general Dwemicki consenta to go into 
camp. His arms and prisoners are taken firom him, while the enemj ia per- 
mitted to leave the territory fVeely. — ^Reflections on the coadnct of Anstria.— 
Consequences of the loss of Dwemicki's corps. — ^The cholera jnaftet ila ap- 
pearance in the two armies. 

The positions of the two armies [See PlanllXII.] 
were now as follows : — The Russian annj wa 
divided into four princi^l bodies, having no com- 
munication with each other. First, their maiB 
body (a), consisting of about 60,000 men and 130 
pieces of cannon, were between Lukow (1) and 
Kock (2). Secondly, the remains of the corps of 
Rosen and Giesmar (6), were at Siedlce (Sy 
They could be counted at about 20,000 men, and 
perhaps 60 pieces of cannon. Thirdly, at Ostro- 
lenka (4) was the Imperial guard (c) consisting of 
18,000 men and 36 cannon. Fourthly, in the 
palatinate of Lublin, were the combined corps of 
Witt and Kreutz (rf), consisting of 30,000 men 
and 60 pieces of cannon. Their different scatter- 
ed detachcpents might be counted at 10,000 men. 
This separation of their different corps invited a 
sudden attack on ehher, before it could receive 
succor from the others. 

Our main body (e), composed of four divisions 




fk A J £.11 tJ4 



zzjn.^ui 



\ 




I 






I 



THE POLISH REYOLUTIOIf. 255 

« 

of infantrj, and three of cavalry, making in all 
about 30,000 men and 80 pieces of cannon, was 
placed between Igani (5) and Siennica (6). Our 
reconnoissances were pushed along the left bank 
of the river Liwiec (L), as far as its junction with 
the river Bug (B). On the right, those recon- 
ncnssances reached Zelechow (7). This was 
nearly the same as our first position, and it was 
strong. Besides this main force, was the division 
of cavalry of general Uminski (/) upon th^ right 
bank of the Narew, at Nasielsk (8), amounting to 
3,200 horse -and 24 pieces of artillery, placed there 
to observe the Russian guard. In the environs of 
Pulawa (9) was a small pig;tizan corps, under the 
command of general Sierawski (g), with 3,000 
men and four pieces of cannon. The corps of 
general Dwernicki (h) was in the environs of 
Zamgsc, (10) atid consisted of 4500 men, and 30 
pieces of cannon. This corps, though at a dis- 
tance from the rest of our forces, could not be cut 
off, having the fortress of Zamosc as a point d^ap- 
put. If the reader will examine a map of the 
country, or even the small plan in the preceding 
pages [No. VI. or XXI L] he will be satisfied that 
by our forces, small as they were, the Russian 
army was already surrounded, and that on the 
ieast advantage which Dwernicki, in conjunction 
with Sierawski, might gain ov^r Witt and Kreutz, 
that army could have been taken in the rear, by 
means of a diversion upon Kock (2) and Radzyn 
(11.) In a word, the moment approached at which 



266 THE POLISH RfiVOLUTIOK. 

our commander had determined to give the enemy 
a last decisive blow,*4)j attacking him at the same 
time on every side ; and for this object, the fol- 
lowing instructions and orders were given. 

First. The generalissimo renewed the order for 
strengthening the fortifications of Warsaw and 
Praga, as well as those on the whole plain of 
Grochow. From the first day of April, as manjas 
5000 Russian prisoners were continually employ- 
ed upon those fortifications. Warsaw, which was 
ntready, as the reader is informed, dtfcDded by a 
girdle of lunettes and redoubts, cosnaanicating 
with each other, received the additional defence 
in some places of block-houses. To streng^u 
the fortifications of Praga, besides the bridge-head, 
there were constructed, within the distance of an 
Englbh mile, a Hue of circumvallation, whkh 
could hold more than twelve thousand men. StiU 
further, at a distance of two miles beyond, or 
nearly upon the field of Grochow, was constructed 
a third line of lunettes and redoubts, which occo- 
pied the whole distance from Kawenzyn to the 
marshes of Goclaw, or the entire field of battle of 
Grochow, as seen in the plan of that battle. In 
' fine, the approach to Praga was so defended, that 
the edemy, before reaching it, would have (o pass 
three different lines of fortification. The general 
in chief gave instructions to the governor of War- 
saw in regard to the defence of the city, in which 
he placed his ohief trust upon the national guard. 
The guard counted it an hoflor to be entrusted 



THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 257 

with this duty, and were unwilling that a single 
8<^ier of the regular army should be detailed for 
the service. How admirably they executed their 
noble resolutions, when the occasion came, is 
probably well known to every reader. 

After his plans for the defence of Warsaw were 
communicated to the authorities or the city, he 
gave particular attention to those points on which 
he intended to support all his operations, and, re- 
lying on which, he could at any time hazard the 
boldest attempts. Having thus made Warsaw an 
axis, upon which all his operations could revolve, 
he proceeded to arrange his attack. In the first 
place be sent orders to general Dwernicki (h) to 
attack immediately the combined corps of generals 
Witt and Kreutz (d). In this attack the small 
corps of general Srerawski (g) was to aid, and the 
two corps were tob preserve a constant communica- 
tion with each other. For that object general 
Sierawski was to pass the Vistula at Kaziemierz 
(12), and, avoiding an engagement with the ene- 
my, to endeavor to join, as soon as possible, the 
corps of general Dwernicki, who received orders 
to leave Zamosc and approach Lublin (13). These 
two corps were to take such a position, that they 
could at any time retire upon Zamosc or Kaziemierz. 
General Dwernicki was also informed that a third 
small corps would be sent in the direction .of Zele- 
chow (7) and Kock (2), to act in concert with him 
on the enemy's rear. If they shpuld succeed in 
the attack, general Dwernicki was to endeavor tQ 



258 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 

force the enemy to take the direction of Palawa 
(9), to drive him into the angle formed bj the 
Vistula (V) and the Wieprz (P) ; in fine, so to act 
as to cut off those two corps from all commuoica- 
tion whatever with their main body. Leaving the 
corps of general Sierawski to continue to ob^ 
serve them, and to push his advantages over them, 
Dwernicki himself was to pass the Wieprz at 
Kock, and from thence by forced marches to leave 
in the direction of Radzyn (11) for Lukow (1) or 
Seroczyn (14), as circumstances might direct, and 
according as he should ascertain the position of 
the enemy to be. Arrived at Lukow or SexocLyn, 
as the case might be, he was to await there t\ie 
orders of the general in chief, to join in the attack 
upon the main force of the enemy under Diebitsch 
(e)j in which attack he was to act on the enemy's 
left wing. The main body of •^ the enemy, thus 
taken in front and in flank, simultaneously, could 
not but have been broken up. For all these opera- 
tions the general in chief had destined fourteen 
days only. 

On the night of the battle of Igani, the general 
in chief having decided upon the above plan, sent 
officers in every direction with ordelrs and instruc- 
tions. The officers sent to the corps of general 
Dwernicki were enjoined to communicate their 
orders to him with the utmost haste. 

The generalissimo, while making his prepara- 
tions for this last blow, continued an unremitting 
observation upon all the movements of the enemy, 



TH£ POLISH REVOLUTION. 269 

even to the minutest details, and in order that the 
enemy might be constantly occupied, and diverted 
from suspecting our plans, he directed small attacks 
to be continually made upon his front. For this 
object the second division, posted at Siennica, re- 
ceived orders to advance to the small town of Je- 
ruzalem.' The division, in executing that order, 
fought the enemy for three successive days, the 
12th, 13th and 14th of April, at Jedlina, Wodynia, 
and Plomieniece, and always with advantage. In 
one of those attacks, at Jedlina, a small detach- 
ment of sixteen Krakus attacked a squadron of 
Russian hussars, coming from Wodynia, dispersed 
them, and took some twenty prisoners. This di- 
vision received also the order to communicate con- 
stantly with the corps of general Pac at Zelechow. 
This last general was to send continual reconnois- 

• 

sances toward Kock, to keep a constant observa- 
tion upon the Russian corps of Kreutz and Witt. 
Of the moveinents of those two corps, the general- 
isshno was each day to receive the most accurate 
information, in order to be ready prepared to pre- 
vent, at any moment, a junction which might be 
attempted between those corps and their main 
body. 

General Skrzynecki, seeing that the enemy had 
fallen into his plan, (of which, indeed, he coufd 
not have had the least suspicion,) and full of the 
brightest hopes, waited impatiently in his strong 
position, for intelligence from general Dwernicki, 
and the approach of the moment for his attack 



260 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 

upon Diebitsch. Almost sure of the SQccessfbl 
execution of his admirable arrangements, what can 
express his disappointment on hearing of the un- 
fortunate operations of the corps of general Sieraw- 
ski, and of the defeat of that corps at Kaziemiers 
in the palatinate of Lublin, the first defecU in ike 
whole tvar. That general, in neglecting the in- 
structions of the commander in chief, not to engage 
with the enemy, on account of the inferiority of his 
own forces, (with which forces in fact he could not 
expect to act but in partisan warfare,) approached 
Lublin, where the two corps of Kreutz aiid Witt 
were supposed to be posted, while his orders wcte, 
by avoiding those corps, and taking the most cir- 
cuitous roads, to endeavor to join as secretly and 
as soon as possible, the corps of Dwernicki. He 
was probably deceived by false information as to 
the direction of the enemy's corpgi, and led to be- 
lieve that those two corps had quitted Lublin to _ 
attack general Dwernicki at Zamo%c. He there- 
fore probably took the direction of Lublin, with 
the idea of acting upon die rear of the enemy at 
the moment of his attack upon Dwernicki. In 
this manner general Sierawski,' quitting Kaziemi- 
erz, arrived on the 16th of April at Belzyca. To 
his great astonishment he found there a strong ad- 
fanced guard of the abov.e mentioned corps. To 
avoid compromitting himself, he engaged with this 
advanced guard, when, observing the very superior 
force and the advantageous position of the enemy, 
he ordered a retreat, which retreat was well exe- 



THK POLISH REVOLUTION. 261 

cuted and without much loss. This general should 
have continued his march the whole night, with as 
little delay as possible, in order to repass quietly 
the Vistula, and thus be protected from all mo- 
lestation by the enemy. But, for what cause it is 
almost impossible to conjecture, he awaited the 
enemy in order of battle the next day, at Serauow. 
Perhaps, finding himself in rather a strong position, 
he thought that the corps of general Dwernicki 
might arrive to his aid. The enemy approached 
the next day with his whole force against Sieraw- 
ski, and as warm an action commenced as the na- 
ture of the ground would admit, it being covered 
by woods with patches of open ground intervening. 
Some squadrons of young Kaliszian cavalry, led by 
the general himself, advanced to the attack of the 
enemy's artillery, which being disadvantageously 
posted, was exposed to be captured. That cav- 
alry, however, by a false direction of their charge, 
fell among the concealed masses of the enemy's 
infantry, and their attack failed. 

This unsuccessful attack had unfortunate re- 
sults. The corps of general Sierawski was obliged 
to evacuate its position, and along its whole retro*^ 
grade march continual attacks of the enemy were 
pressed upon it. The peculiar nature of the ground 
and the extreme brevity of general Sierawski, a 
veteran of between sixty and seventy, who, at the 
head of the detachments of his rear guard always 
led the charges against the enemy, and held him 
in check, was all that saved the corps from destnic- 

33 



262 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 

tioD. At length the corps reached Kaziemierz, 
the point which it had left; and here again, instead 
of passing the Vistula, Sierawski awaited another 
attack from the overwhelming force of the enemj, 
and that too with only the half of his corps, for 
the other half was sent, to pass the Vistula, This 
course was inexplicable, and excited much remark 
in the army. On the 18th, the Russians reached 
Kaziemierz. The town was vigorously attacked 
by them, and their assaults were repeated]/ re- 
pulsed by the new Kaziemierz infantrj, under 
colonel Malachowski, who, with a scythe in his 
hand, marched at their head. But the death of 
that brave patriot spread among the ranks of those 
new soldiers a degree of disorder, and the city was 
taken by the enemy. We must again thank gen- 
eral Sierawski for having saved the rest of the 
corps from ruin ; having executed the evacuation 
of the town with such order that he passed the 
Vistula at tlie point of Borowa, not far from Kazi- 
emierz, without being molested in the attempt. 
He then took a position on the left bank. 

Although the unfortunate affairs of those two 
days were not attended by severe losses, yet they 
were deeply afflictive to the general in chief. 
They threatened the entire disarrangement of his 
plans, and were followed by the more important 
disasters of general Dwernicki. The latter gen- 
eral, who, as is known to the reader, commenced 
his career so gloriously; whose very name, indeed, 
was a terror to the Russians, and who, by his sue- 



THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 263 

cessive victories over the three corps of Kreutz, 

Wirtemberg, and Rudiger, had established the 

strongest claims upon the gratitude of his country, 

— this genera], I must repeat it with pain, finished 

his great career in the most unfortunate manner. 

His case should serve as a strong example, that it 

is pot bravery alone which is required in a great 

general, for in that it would be difficult to find his 

equal, but that this bravery loses its value when 

not united with circumspection. 

The following are the details* of the operations 
of general Dwernicki. [See Plan No. XXIIL] 
We cannot well imagine the cause which induced 
that general to quit Zamosc (1), and the important 
operations in the palatinate of Lublin, and, neg- 
lecting aJl his instructions and orders, to have 
crossed the Bug (B) and entered the province of 
Volhynia, unless it were the reception of some cer- 
tain news of a fresh insurrection in that province, 
and of the collection of insurgent forces there, 
who might be waiting for his approach, and who 
needed his protection. He might, perhaps, have 
thought to be able so to accelerate his movement 
as to avail himself of such new strength before a 
superior Russian force should arrive in that pro- 
vince to crush such insurrection, and disperse the 
insurgents. At the moment when Dwernicki 
migfit have conceived such a plan, there was, in 
facjt, only a corps of about 12,000 men and some 
20 pieces of cannon, under Rudiger, in the pro- 
vince. This corps, Dwernicki perhaps intended 



264 THE FOLISH REVOLUTION. 

to attack, in his way, and crush them, and then at- 
taching the insurgents to his corps, to return to the 
palatinate, or if circumstances might make it expe- 
dient, to follow up his blow into the heart of Vol- 
hynia. In fine, on the 15th of April, this general 
quitted the environs of Zamosc, taking the direction 
of Uscialug (2), where, on the evening of the 16th, 
he passed the river Bug. On the 17th he con- 
tinued his march in the direction of Dubno (3)^ 
where the insurgents were perhaps supposed to be 
awaiting him. On the road to that town be re- 
ceived information that the corps of Rudvgei had 
marched from Radziwilow (4), and was now m 
the direction of Milatyn (6). General Dwemicki 
turned immediately from the direction in which he 
was marching, to throw himself upon this corps, 
whit^h he found on its march, at the village of Bo- 
romel (6), where, without giving the enemj^ time 
to take position, he attacked and overthrew him. 
The enemy was routed, and lost several hundred 
in killed and prisoners, with eight pieces of cannon. 
That in this fine, and the last fine battle of Dwer- 
nicki, the Russian corps was not wholly destroyed, 
was owing to the circumstance that a branch of the 
river Styr (S), over which the bridge had been de- 
stroyed, stopped our pursuit. The Russians, dur^ 
ing the night of the 18th, Evacuated their position, 
and took the road to Beresteczko (7), where they 
took a new position. In regard to tactics, the 
corps of general Rudiger could not have chosen a 
worse direction than that of the angle formed by 



THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 265 

the river Stjr, and the froDtier of Austria (F). 
General Dweroicki, by a passage to the right bank 
of the Styr, could have cut off all the enemy's 
communications with his other corps, and could 
have again fought him at the greatest advantage. 
It was here then that our brave Dwernicki com- 
mitted his great fault, and in place of acting upon 
the right bank of the river, where he would have 
bad an open field for the most enlarged operations, 
he chose to follow up the attack ; and as he saw 
that the enemy could not be safely assailed in 
front, on account of his strong position between 
two small lakes, but found that this position was 
open towards the frontier of Austria, — there it was 
that the unhappy idea occurred to him, of marching 
to the environs of Eolodno (8), on the frontier of 
Austria, and attacking the enemy on that side, 
feeling sure of victory. But general Rudiger did 
not wait for this attack. Perceiving his exposed 
position between the river and the frontier, he was 
satisfied with being permitted to escape, and de- 
clined battle. Upon observing that general Dwer- 
nicki was manoeuvring upon the frontiers of Aus- 
tria, general Rudiger repassed the Styr, avoided 
the attack by this manoeuvre, and was in a situa- 
tion to join himself with all the Russian detach- 
ments which might cone into the province from 
the heart of Russia, by the different directions of 
Krzemieniec, Ostrog, &c., and to act with them 
in surrounding Dwernicki, who was confined in 
this above described angle. This is what in fact 
took place. 



266 THE POLISH BEVOLDTION. 

Dweroicki remained, for what reason we cannot 
Qooceive, at Kolodno until the 23d of April, wheocei 
following along the frontiers of Austria; he took tbe 
direction of Wereszczaki (9). There dispersing a 
Russian detachment, he arrived on the 26th at 
Knielce and Wielkie (10).. Knowing that tbe 
Russians were observing him, he determined to 
ccmiiin there and take advantage of a strong natu- 
ral position* He wished in this position to await 
tbe enemy and give him battle, hoping by a victory 
to free himself from the contracted space in wbdch 
be W9S confined. In fact, on the next day, the 
corps of general Rudiger (6) made its appeax^ince) 
having come in the direction of Krzemieniec (W^ 
The battle commenced, and in the midst of the 
action another Russian corps (c) was seen ap- 
proaching in the direction of Proskirow (12) and 
Stary-Konstantynow (13) under the command of 
general Rott, acting thus upon the right wing and 
even the rear of general Owernicki's corps. To 
avoid being turned, general Dwemicki retired in 
such a manner as to lean his right wing upon the 
Austriap frontier. The Russians, not regarding 
this, passed that frontier, and proceeded to push 
their. attack upon his flank. This obliged general 
Dwernicki to , withdraw his le^t wing, and 4p<)eed 
Us whole front, upon the Ajistrian territpry, where, 
in fact, the line was not distinctly qarkejd, all the 
whilie biding. engaged with ^e enemy* The action 
hjaving continued thus for some hours, a detach- 
fOfsaM of Au3trian cavalry, under colpnel Fac, ap- 



. THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 26t 

preached and threw themselves between the com- 
bsfctants, calling on them to respect the neutrality 
or the territory. In this manner the combat 
ceased. General Dwernicki gave his parole to dis- 
continue hostilities, and consented to advance far- 
ther into the interior, and, placing himself in camp, 
iTvaited the result of the decision of the Austrian 
government upon what had occurred. The Rus- 
sian corps, which had just passed the frontier, and 
which had in fact entered its with is whole force, 
was permitted to leave freely. The first duty 
which general Dwernicki thought imposed upod 
him in his present situation, was to make a full 
and true report of what had occurred to the Na- 
tional Government and the general in chief, which 
he was permitted to do. He also sent a letter to 
the commander in chief of the Austrian forces in 
Galicia, explaining how it was that, in a neces- 
sary manoeuvre he had passed over a point of land 
on the Austrian territory without the intention of 
occupying it. Having done this, he supposed 
that he would be permitted to remain in camp, 
retaining his own arms,, those taken from the ene- 
my, and his prisoners, until conferences between 
the governments should decide respecting the 
course to be taken. But the Austrian government, 
far from giving such a reasonable permission, col- 
lected a strong corps in the environs of Tamopol, 
and the Austrian commander in chief demanded of 
general Dwernicki to surrender both his own arms 
and those taken from the enemy. Gfeneral Dwer- 



268 THE POLISH revolution; 

nicki, although this Austrian corps was not formid- 
able to him, jet being anxious to avoid the serious 
political consequences which might possibly follow 
resistance, submitted to this unjust demand, which 
will be an eternal reproach to the Austrian govero- 
ment. The Austrians returned their arms to the 
Russian prisoners, whom they liberated, and retain- 
ed the arms of the Polish troops. The whole corps 
was conducted into the interior, and thus ended 
the career of that important body of our forces.* 

The conduct of Austria, in regard to the corps 
of Dwernicki, I*am sure will excite the indigDatioa 
of the reader. If general Dwernicki had enteted 
upon the Austrian territory, he was forced todo'il 
by the Russian corps, which had already passed 
the frontier ; and that cannot be regarded as an 
intentional invasion of the frontiers which was 
done without design, and was a mere transition 

* This unfortunate and painful event should serve as an im- 
pressive example, which cannot be too often brought, to mind, of 
what disastrous consequences may follow from the neglect of <^ 
serving a constant communication between corps acting together, 
and, above all, the departing A-om orders which are given upon t 
general plan, the absolute control of which should belong to the 
general in chief. Had general Dwernicki, conforming to his in- 
structions, acted only against the corps of Kreutz and Witt, and 
in concert with the corps of Sierawski, he would have been ap- 
prised of that general's quitting Kaziemierz, and both of those two 
corps could have joined in the attack, in which they would have 
been aided by another corps which was to be sent, as the reader is 
aware, to act against the enemy's rear. If those corps of Rreaty 
and Witt had been defeated, immense advantages would have 
followed ; indeed the war would have been over, for the Russian 
main army would have been taken in flank and rear^ and^ in-ftet, 
completely cut off. 



THE POLISH RfiVOLOTION. 269 

over an iDdisttnct line, made necessary bj the po- 
sition which Jthe enemy had taken. Such a case 
certainly should have formed an exception to a 
general rule. To the Russian corps all the pris- 
oners were returned, without any consent obtained 
from our government, to whom they, in fact, be- 
longed, and should have been considered as belong- 
ing, until the end of the war. 

It was in this manner that those intriguing cabi- 
nets repaid the debt of gratitude which they owed 
to Poland. They had forgotten the times of John 
Sobieski, who, in 1683, delivered their capital, 
and their whole territory, from destruction at the 
hands of the Turks. They had forgotten that they 
thus owe their very existence to Poland. 

At present, regardless of all obligations of jus- 
tice, they concert with our enemy for our ruin. 
But if by this unjust treatment of their , benefac- 
tors, the Austrians may have gained some tempo- 
rsgry advantages, the reader will acknowledge that 
in reference to their ultimate good, they have act- 
ed with a most short-sighted and mistaken policy. 
The aggrandizement of Russia can never be an 
advantage to Austria. 

There were few more melancholy events in our 
war than this. The disaster of this corps griev- 
ously paralyzed all the fine plans of the general in 
chief. It reinforced the Russian superior force by 
40,000 men ; — for the different corps of Kreutz, 
Witt, Rudiger, and Rott, could now rejoin their 
main army without obstruction. 

34 



270 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 

To these disasters of the two corps of Dwer-' 
nicki and Sierawski, which were deeply felt bj 
the nation, was now to be added the appearance 
of that horrible malady, the cholera, which after 
the battle of Igani commenced its devastations in 
our ranks. On the night of that battle several 
hundreds of our troops fell sick. This terrible 
diease caused us, on the first few days, the loss of 
nearly 1,000 men; but if it was terrible with us, 
nothing can express the suffering it produced kk 
the Russian camp, aided by the want of comfort 
in the arrangements of that camp, and the acid 
food upon which the Russian soldiers were haVA\A* 
ally fed. Thousands of those wretched suffemi* 
were left exposed to the open air^ and died upon 
the field. The Poles took even more care of them 
than of their own sick. They were brought to- 
gether, and transported to Menie, where there was 
a large convent, which was turned into a hospital 
for their use. The total number of those sufferers 
may be imagined, when it is stated, that, in that 
hospital and village alone, two thousand Russian 
sick were reported. 



CHAPTER XVII. 

ITie RtiMian commander resumes offensiTe operatione. — Object of the attack 
of the 25th of April. — Combat of Kuflew. — General Dembinski evacaates the 
position of Kuflew, and awaits the enemy at Bady. — Battle of Minsk.~-The 
enemy suddenly evacuates his position. — Reflections on this stage of the 
oonfliot — Positions of the two armies 

The Russian main army, which, since the last of 
March had been on the defensive, from weakness 
or from indecision, on the 23d of April began to 
change its position, and to take the offensive. 
Having received intelligence, as we may suppose, 
of the disasters of Sierawski, and also of the pas- 
sage of geueral Dwernicki into Volhynia, general 
Diebitscb gave orders to the corps of Witt and 
Kreutz to pass the Wieprz at Kock, and to attack 
our detachment at Zelechow, which was forced 
to retire. On the same day (23d), the brigade of 
colonel Dembinski was attacked at Jeruzalem, 
without any decisive result. Those small attacks 
by the enemy served, however, as an indication of 
the intention of general Diebitsch to take the of- 
fensive on a larger scale. To meet this intention, 
all. our detachments received orders to hold them- 
selves in readiness. Firstly, tliese detachments 
were to concentrate themselves upon a line of 
operations, between Kaluszyn, Siennica, and Ze- 
lechow. [The reader can refer to Plan VI.] The 
whole line, in case of attack, on whatever quarter 
it might be, was to make a retrograde movement, 
upon the same plan as heretofore, as far as the field 



272 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 

■ 

of Wawn General Pac, in particular^ who was 
the farthest removed from Zelechow, was to jise 
the utmost vigilance, and to make this retrograde 
movement in the promptest manner, when occasido 
required. 

On the 25th of April, in fact, marsKal Diebitsch 
commenced his attack at two principal pohna,' 
Boimie and Kuflew. Upon the last of these tiro 
points, he threw his greatest force, .iqtendiiig t$ 
pierce our line there, and by a diversion at Minsk 
to divide our forces. Besides the prevention of 
this design, the defence of Kuflew was of tbe - 
greatest importance to us from the circumstance 
that along the whole course of the river Swidet, 
at Latowicz, Starygrod, &c. were posted variooB 
small detachments, which would have been cut (^ 
if we should be forced to make a sudden evacua* 
tioQ of that point. 



COMBAT OF KUFLEW. [Set Plm XXIV.] 

This combat deserves to be forever held up as 
an example in tactics, to show how much c^ be 
dpne with a small force, managed with prudence 
.and skill. Colonel Dembinski, who, in this battle, 
commanded the inconsiderable forces that met tbe 
attack of the masses of Diebitsch, well merited the 
rank of general, to which he wa% then advanced. 
Our position was covered by the river Swider (S) 
and its marshes, which secured it from being taken 



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THE FOU8H RETOLUTION. 273 

in flank. Tke eDemy had one debouchment (a), 
eoosisting of a kind of dyke, which led from Ko- 
lacze (1). He could pass this dyke easily, for the 
bridge was entire. On our side, not far from this 
dyke, were small forests, or rather brush-wood, 
occupied by two battalions (6) of our infantry. 
Upon the plain between Kuflew and the river Swi- 
der, ten squadrons of our cavalry (c) manoeuvred. 
Near the village (II) upon a little hill, on which 
was a wind -mill, our artillery {d)^ consisting of 
oaly four pieces, were posted, and directed their 
fire upon the passage over which the enemy were 
to debouch. The position of the enemy was com- 
manding, for his artillery could sMeep the whole 
plain on each side of the Swider. The details of 
this battle were ^s follows : — At sunrise, on the 
26tbj several regiments of cossacks («) appeared 
upon the heights of Jeruzalem. They even seve- 
ral times attempted to pass the dyke, but were 
repulsed by the fire of our tirailleurs from the 
brush-wood. It was mid-day when strong columns 
of infantry (/) began to show themselves in the 
direction of Lukowiec and Plomieniec. In a short 
tiaie all the heights of Jeruzalem were covered 
with columns of infantry, and they began their 
descent to Kolacze. The Russian light troops (g) 
began their debouchment, and a warm fire com- 
menced jbetween the Russian infantry upon the 
dyke, and our own tirailleurs in the brush-wood. 
The Russian artillery (A) which remained upon the 
heights on the other side, consisting of twenty and 



274 THE POLISH RETOLOTIOW. 

more pieces of large calibre, poured for several 
boars a heavj fire upon Kuflew, wbere tbey sup- 
posed a large force to be placed, but wbere, in 
fact, besides the four pieces of artillery, we had 
but one company of infantry. Under this terrible 
fire, that village was burnt to the ground. Those 
attacks of the Russian artillery and infantry con- 
tinued for three successive hours, when colonel 
Dembinski, being informed that the small detach- 
ments at Latowicz, &c. above referred to, iiad 
evacuated their position and were safe from being 
cut off, commenced his retreat, as his instructions 
directed. By accelerating his retreat be Vi^ an- 
other object in view, namely, to lead the enemy in 
the direction of the 2d division, which was posted 
at Ceglow, and was prepared to receive him. 
Our infantry and artillery had left their position 
and were on the road, when colonel Dembinski, 
placing himself at the head of his cavalry, threw 
himself with great boldness upon the columns of 
the enemy which had debouched over the dyke, 
and by repeated attacks kept them off from our 
rear. After having passed the first forest without 
molestation, between Ceglow and Kuflew, colonel 
Dembinski took a position, between forests, in the 
environs of Bady, where a part of the 2d division 
was placed in expectation of the enemy, in a kind 
of ambuscade. Here our forces waited in vain 
until night for the enemy, who had contented him- 
self with having taken Kuflew. Two squadrons 
of Cossacks, whom he* ventured to send towards 



THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 276 

our position, to reconnoitre, were, as soon as they 
\vere seen, fallen upon by our cavalry, and either 
cut down or made prisoners, to the amount of more 
than a hundred men and horses, with two officers. 
As the enemy attempted nothing more, our forces, 
during the night, evacuated their position, agree- 
ably to instructions, and reached Minsk at 3, A. M. 
of the next day. At Kuflew, full 40,000 men, 
with some twenty pieces of artillery, and com- 
manded by Diebitsch in person, were opposed to 
general Dembinski, who had not quite 4,000 men 
and four pieces of artillery, with which force he 
stood against the enemy for that whole day. The 
loss of the Russians was about a thousand men, 
and on our own side it was not fifty. 

The actions which took place on the same day 
at Boimie, were without any decisive result, con- 
sisting only of a continued fire of artillery. During 
the night of that day, our forces in every point 
made a retrograde movement. The general in 
chief arranged his preparations to receive the 
enemy on the 26th, dividing his forces into two 
parts. The second division under Gielgud, and 
the division of cavalry, under Skarzynski, was to 
await the enemy at Minsk ; while the general in 
chief, with the main body, awaited him in person 
at Dembe-Wielke. 

BATTLE OF MINSK. [See Plan XXY.] 

The position of Minsk may be considered as 
one of the strongest upon the great road from 



276 THE POLISH RETOLUTIOn. 

Siedlce to Waisaw. That town is situated in a 
plain, surrounded by an impenetrable forest, and 
traversed by a small river, which falls into the 
Swider* Upon the side of Warsaw, where oar 
forces were placed, are heights which overlook the 
\vhole town, and they were particularly comoiao^ 
ing upon the right of the roads leading to Wai^ 
saw. The fire from those heights could svfee^ 
almost every street of the city, and they were oc^ 
cupied by twenty-four pieces of artillerj (a). 
Upon the side of Siedlce and Ceglow, wbeace the 
enemy was approaching, the whole phiin was ex- 
posed to the commanding fire of this anVWeiy. 
The town of Minsk was occupied by two battaU 
ions of our light-infantry, dispersed as sharp shoot- 
ers (b). 

It was mid-day when the Russians (c} (d) 
debouched from the forest, commenced their ad- 
vance, and deployed upon the plain under the fire 
of our artillery, which was opened immediately. 
Some fifty pieces of the enemy's artillerj, (e) 
approached the city, took position, and com- 
menced their fire. As the town was occupied by 
so small a force, and so distributed as not to be 
affected by the enemy's fire, he was permitted to 
continue this fire, and our artillery reserved theirs 
for the moment when he should make a geaeral 
advance to storm the town. This soon took place. 
An enormous mass of infantry (/) advanced to the 
assault. Our light troops evacuated the part of the 
town beyond the river, to enable our artillery to 



THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 277 

• 

open upon it. That part was immediately occupied 
by the enemy, who, crowded together in the streets, 
were subjected to a fire which spread death among 
their ranks. The enemy hesitated whether to ad- 
vance or retire, and remained in the utmost dis- 
order, falling under the fire of our artillery and 
the torn and burning fragments of the wooden 
buildings which were rent in pieces by that fire. 
While the enemy remained in this horrible sus- 
pense, the brave colonel Oborski led his regiment 
to the charge, and bore down all before him. A 
most terrible massacre, at the point of the bayonet, 
then took place in the Squafe of the Church (g)j 
where great masses of the enemy were crowded 
together. The Russians were driven out of the 
town after a most severe loss. They were left 
at liberty to take possession of the same part 
again, but they did not repeat their attacks upon 
the town, satisfying themselves with concentrating 
a heavy fire of artillery principally upon the heights 
occupied by our own. This state of things con- 
tinued till three o'clock, when general Gielgud gave 
orders to evacuate the position, agreeably to the 
directions of the general in chief. Sixteen squad- 
rons of cavalry were left to cover the movement, 
and in this way our division, reaching the village 
of Stoiardly, two English miles distant, took a 
second position there. This new position was 
advantageous, on account of the elevation of the 
ground. Our right wing, in particular, was well 
supported upon a thick marshy forest, and. was 

36 



278 THE POLISH REVOLUTION* 

pushed forward far enough to give a cross fire to 
the enemyi in case he should try to force the pas- 
sage of the great road. As the enenij was so 
imprudent, after our evacuation, as to commeiice 
his debouchment through the town, with his cav- 
alry in advance, he exposed himself to a severe loss; 
for our artillery, consisting of six pieces, poured a 
destructive fire upon the main street of the city, 
which led to the only passage over the river; 
and again, after deploying under this fire upon the 
plain, he was subjected to vigorous charges from 
our cavalry under Skarzynski which cost him a 
severe loss, and delayed his advance for more tlh^Ji 
half an hour. As the space between Stoiard\y 
and Minsk was a plain gently descending ftt)m our 
side, moist in the lower parts, and in every way 
favorable for attacks by our cavalry, their chaj^es 
were continually repeated, and the combat on this 
'plain deserved the name of the combat of cavalry. 
To give the reader an idea of these effective 
charges against a cavalry of much superior force, I 
will merely state that -each squadron of the six- 
teen, was engaged some three or four successive 
times with the enemy. Their horses were con- 
tinually in foam. The regiment of Zamoyski, the 
Krakus, and the 6th Hulans greatly distinguished 
themselves. The loss of the enemy's cavalry, of 
which the greater part consisted of regiments of 
heavy dragoons, was very great. Their horses 
hoofs sunk into the humid ground, and our Krakus, 
on their light animals, assaulted them in the v€ry 



THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 279 

fnidst of their ranks. Many staff and other offi- 
cers of the enemy were left dead upon the field. 
Our advanced guard having, in this way, fought 
^w^ith such advantages, against the whole Russian 
army, at Minsk and Stoiardly, from mid-day until 
5 P. M. ; the general in chief ordered them to 
evacuate their position as promptly as possible, 
and retire to Dembie-Wielke, where he awaited 
the enemy in order of battle, and where he was 
desirous of meeting his attack before night. This 
movement was executed without molestation from 
the Russians. Our advanced guard passed the 
forests between Dembe-Wielke and Stoiardly, and 
arrived at the position of Dembe-Wielke, where 
fifty pieces of our^artillery were posted to receive 
tfa^ enemy, and our whole force took the order of 
battle. The enemv, however, did not debouch 
from the forests, but remained on the other side. 
This finishes the details of that day and of the 
battle of Minsk, in which the early cessation of 
the attacks of the enemy proved how much he had 
suffered. He had two generals mortally wounded, 
general Pahlen and the prince Galiszyn, and lost 
nearly 4,000 men. On our side the loss was four 
or five hundred only. 

For their conduct in this battle, the National 
Government and the general in chief presented 
their thanks to the 2d division under Gielgud and 
the division of cavalry under Skarzynski. General 
Gielgud was advanced to the rank of general of 
division, and it was perhaps owing to his skilful 



280 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 

dispositions and brave conduct on that day, that it 
was not feared to entrust him with the command 
of the all-important expedition to Lithuania. 

On the 27th and 28th9 no pvents took place. 
During the night of the 28th, the enemy, to our 
astonishment, evacuated his position, and retired 
as far as Kaluszjn, twenty-four English miles dis- 
tant* We cannot give the true cause of this sud- 
den and unexpected retreat. Perhaps it was oo 
account of a failure of provisions. Another cause 
might have been the rumors, which had begun to 
take an aspect of importance, of the revolutions ia 
Lithuania and Samogitia. 

The reader will allow me to dwell for a moment 
upon this extraordinary movement of the enemy, 
which must be considered an indication, either of 
the extreme of physical and moral weakness to 
which the Russian army was reduced, or of a great 
want of generalship on the part of marshal Die- 
bitsch. Such a course, voluntarily taken^ ia the 
eyes of the military critic, is enough to destroj all 
claim to military talent on the part of that com- 
mander. Such great objects attempted, followed 
up with so little perseverance, and abandoned 
' without an adequate cause, would seem to indi- 
cate either the absence of any fixed plan, or a 
degree of indecision inconsistent with, any sound 
military pretensions. 

Our commander in chief felt sure that when 
general Diebitsch attacked, on the 25th and 26th, 
it was with the view, having no longer any fear of 



THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 281 

the corps of general Dwernicki and Sierawski, 
and being reinforced by the corps which had been 
opposed to the former, to follow up his attack and 
compel us to a general battle. Whatever might 
have been the result of that battle, it was the only 
course which a true general could have followed, 
especially when his army was in such superiority 
of strength* To one whe considers these circum- 
stances, two questions will arise. First, what was 
the object of commencing the attack ? Secondly, 
what was, in regard to tactics, the cause of its 
cessation, and of that sudden retreat ? It will be 
very difficult to find a satisfactory answer to either 
of those questions.* 

Our army, after this retreat of the enemy, com- 



* In the whole of this war, the videtteg of the two annies were 
at no time so near as they were after this last battle. On the 27th 
and 28th, those of the Russian cavalry, cossacks and hussars, occu* 
pjring the main road, were within fiAy paces of the yidettes of our 
lancers, so near in fact that they eould have conversed together. 
On having this circumstance reported to him, the general in chief 
did not take advantage of any attack^ but ordered the utmost for* 
bearance to be observed, and the most friendly demonstrations to 
be made by our outposts. On changing of the guard, our sentinels, 
as they quitted their post, bade a friendly adieu to the opposite 
sentinel of the enemy ; and under the cover of night, the enemy's 
sentinels, and even some of their officers, approached our videttes, 
gave their hands, and entered into friendly conversation. It was 
touching to see those brave soldiers deeply affected at such meet- 
ings. With tears in their eyes, the Russians could only repeat 
that they had been forced to this contest, and confessed that, even 
if we shoidd be conquerors, they would be the gainers in other 
respects. They also uttered their complaints of the tyranny and 
the privations to which they were subjected, and our lancers gave 
them all the relief which their own means could furnish. 



282 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 

menced anew its advance, and, on the dOth, it 
occupied again its former position at Boimie, on 
the river Kostzjn. At this time, our left wing 
under Uminski, which, as the reader is aware, 
was on the right bank of the Narew, at the envi- 
rons of Pultusk, received orders to join the main 
army, leaving a detachment at Zagroby, where 
the generalissimo ordered a strong bridge-head to 
be erected. 

The position of the two armies on the SOtb was 
as follows. [Plans VI. and XXIX.] Our army 
was again concentrated between ^tngrow and 
Ceglow, and indeed Wengrow was occupied \jy 21 
small detachment. The centre or the greater force 
was on the main road at Kaluszyn. Its advanced 
posts were along the banks of the river Kostrzjn 
at Grombkowo, Strzebucza, and Boimie. Our 
right wing was again posted upon the river Swi- 
der, between Karczewo and Ceglow. The Rus- 
sian army was concentrated in the environs of 
Mordy and Sucha, where marshal Diebitsch en- 
trenched himself in a fortified camp, and took 
again a defensive attitude. The corps of Kreutz 
and Witt were in the environs of Pulawa, and the 
Russian imperial guard advanced to the environs 
of Pqltusk. 



CHAPTER XVIII. 

General Sknjneckt resamet the offeotifre. — He deoidet to adopt an enlarged 
plan of operations, and to moke the rerolutionized prorincet aupplj the place 
of a corpa d'armee. — The corpa of Chrzanowski it sent to occtipj the RuMian 
corps of Witt and Kreutz. — Admirable execution of this enterpriae. — Attack 
on Rock. — Attack of Rudiger's camp. — Plan of operations by the main armj 
against the Russian guard. — Forced march from Kalusxjn bj Praga to Se* 
rock. — Advanced post of the guard attacked and defeated. — The corps of 
Saken is cut off. — ^The 2d division under Gielgud sent into Lithuania. — The 
imperial gnard are driven with great loss beyond the frontier^— Retrograde 
movement 

As several days psissed away, without any tbiog 
having been attempted on tbe part of the enemyi 
our general in chief decided to recommence hos- 
tilities by small attacks, which were designed to 
mask the great plan he intended to put into execu- 
tion. The general view which occupied our com- 
mander, was to continue the offensive, to follow up 
the enemy constantly, and not to leave him unless 
some very important occasion should call for a dif- 
ferent course. Let us reflect upon tbe di£Sculties 
of such a plan, and let us fhen examine how it was 
in fact executed by the general in chief. 

General Skrzynecki, regarding all the existing 
circumstances, tbe actual position of the enemy, 
and his strength, found a great difference between 
the p'resent state of things and that which existed 
after the battle of Igani. The misfortunes of the 
corps of Dwernicki and Sierawski, had made a vast 
change in the relative strength of the two parties. 
The fate of those two corps gave a great advantage 



284 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 

to the enemy, leaving bim free to concentrate all 
his forces and to act in one mass* This advantage 
of the enemy was to be met, and means were to 
be taken to keep his forces in detached bodies, by 
giving occupation to each. To provide such means, 
it was next an object to give an important charac- 
ter to the revolution in Lithuania, and in fact to 
make that revolution supply the place of a cotys 
d^armee^ to send a body of troops to aid it, and to 
direct and lead the pariizan forces which might be 
there enrolled. If then by such operatioii, Litbu- 
ania and Samogitia could be kept in constant com- 
munication with the main army, the line of openk- 
tions would be enlarged, and would be based npon 
Wilna and Warsaw. This line of operations would 
embrace also the towns of Grodnow and Lomza. 
To occupy the corps of "Witt and Kreutz, which 
were still in the palatinate of Lublin, the general 
in chief detached a small corps under the command 
of general Chrzanowski, which were furnished with 
the same instructions as it3 predecessor, that of 
general Dwernicki, which were, in general, to act 
in the environs of Zamosc. 

To facilitate the execution of these plans, the 
general in chief determined to give daily occupa- 
tion to the enemy. On the 2d of May, the fire 
was renewed along our whole line. Each follow- 
ing day presented sanguinary scenes at diflferent 
points. In the midst of one of these actions, oo 
the 7th, the small corps above iSlentioned, consist- 
ing of 4,000 men and eight pieces of Cannon, under 



«• 



8 




i3 



yxm. 




THE POLISH rbvoldtion; 285 

general Chrzanowski, left the main body \_See Plan 
XXVI.], took the direction of Stoczek (1), Zele- 
chow (2), and Kock (3), to reach the environs of 
Zamosc (4). The reader, on examining the plan, 
and looking at the space which this corps (a) was 
fo pass over, in the midst of the enemy's detached 
corps (6), and in which it was exposed every mo- 
ment to be surrounded and cut off, will acknow- 
ledge that this expedition, which was most suc- 
cessfully executed, is to be ranked among the 
finest operations in the- campaign. It demanded a 
general of talent, and a soldier of determination. 
~ ^ When I allow myself thus to detain the attention 
of the reader upon the extraordinary efforts of this 
war, it is only with the view to convince him that 
nothing is difficult of execution which is prompted 
by a resolute determination based upon high prin- 
ciples, and that what would be (}eemed almost im- 
possible in an ordinary war, in which despots, jto 
gratify their ambition or their caprices, force their 
subjects to battle — an involuntary sacrifice, — is far 
from being so, in a war ttke ours. In such a war, 
moral impulse becomes an element, the importance 
of which cannot be over-estimated. 

General Chrzanowski, quitting, as we have 
mentioned, the main body, took the direction of 
Ceglow, and threw himself into the great forest 
of Plomieniec. Leaving that forest, he met, near 
Wodynia, a strong detachment of the enemy, com- 
posed of infantry, cavalry, and several pieces of 
artillery, belonging to their main body, and pro- 

36 



1 



286 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 

bably detached to make a reconnoissaDce. By a 
sudden attack that detachment was at once over- 
thrown. The cavalry ordered for their pursuit 
were instructed to return in another direction, in 
order to deceive the enemy. In this manner gen- 
eral Chrzanowski, frequently meeting with small 
detachments of the enemy, and deceiving them 
continually, traversed the woody plain between 
Stoczek and Zelechow, and arrived, on the night 
of the 9th, at the environs of Kock, where be bad 
to pass the river Wieprz. 



ATTACK OF KOCK. [5fe« Plan XXVII-l 

At the moment of the arrival of the cor^s of 
general -Chrzanowski, this town was occupied by 
a part of the corps of general Witt, composed of 
6,000 men and 20 pieces of artillery. Besides 
this considerable garrison, the place had been 
strengthened by several fortifications (1) on each 
side of the river, to defend the passage of the 
bridge (2), and without taking those fortifications 
it would be impossible for us to pass the bridge. 
In such circumstances there was no alternative, 
and it was neoessary to attempt to take the town 
by storm. General Chrzanowski announced his 
intention to the corps, and addressed a few ani- 
mating words to them. Having divided his corps 
into small parties (a, a), he surrounded the town. 
He placed especial importance upon the- forcing of 



THK POLISH REVOLUTION. 287 

the avenue (3) leading to the palace, and getting 
possession of the garden (4) which surrounded the 
palace, and bordered on the river. If all this could 
be rapidly executed, the enemy would be taken in 
the rear. * 

The signal for the attack being given, a warm 
fire from our skirmishers was commenced in all 
points round the city, and, while the cavalry (6), 
divided into detachments, threw themselves con- 
tinually upon the Russian infantry (c), our infant- 
ry, at the charge, forced the entrance to the palace 
and garden, which was immediately occupied by 
ov tirailleurs, who opened their fire upon the for- 
tifications (1) and on the Russian columns in the 
square (d). In this manner the enemy was sur- 
rounded, and forced to evacuate the city with 
great loss, and to take the direction of Radzyn. 
General Chrzanowski passed the river and took 
the direction of Lubartow. Leaving the town of 
Lublin on the right, and following the banks of 
the river Wieprz, he reached on the 11 th the en- 
virtms of Piaski. In the latter place he was ap- 
prized that a Russian corps, under Rudiger, was 
at Krasnystaw. Chrzanowski decided to attack 
them. 

ATTACK OF RUDIGER'S CAMP. [See Plan XiVIII.] 

The corps of general Rudiger, after the unfor- 
tunate disaster of general Dwernicki, having tra- 
versed Volhynia, entered the frontiers of the king- 



288 THE POLISH REVOLUTIOn. 

dom, and took the direction of Lublin, being des« 
tined probably to reinforce the main army under 
Diebitsch. This corps, which was composed of 
about 12,000 men, and some twenty pieces of 
cannon, w^as in camp (£) near the town of Kras* 
nystaw, having that town and the river Wieprz in 
its rear. 

General Chrzanowski, who halted with his corps 
in the forest between Piaski and Krasnystaw, hav- 
ing sent out patrols, was perfectly informed of the 
position of the enemy, and ascertained that be bad 
not his wing supported on the river ;— indeed, he 
was in such a state, as satisfied our general t!^x 
he had no expectation of meeting a Polish force, 
and that he might be surprised in his camp. To 
effect this object, general Chrzanowski divided his 
corps into two parties, and giving the command 
^of one to the brave general Romarino, he ordered 
him to traverse the forest longitudinally, as far as 
the road which leads from Tarnogora to Krasny- 
staw, and by this road, which is wholly through 
forests, to approach, as near as possible, to the left 
of the enemy's camp ; and also, if circumstances 
might permit it, to push himself even against the 
enemy's rear. On arriving there, he was to com- 
mence his fire immediately. These instructions 
to general Romarino being given, general Chrza- 
nowski (B) advanced with the other part of the 
corps, through the forest, keeping the left bank of 
the Wieprz. He approached so near the enemy, 
without being perceived, as even to be on a line 



J 



THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 289 

tpvith biiD. Not long before evening, Romarino 
having reached the enemj on the other side (C), 
began his attack, and his fire was a signal for 
Chrzanowski ^o quit the forest. Thus suddenly 
assaulted upon his two wings and his rear, the dis- 
order of the enemy was unimaginable, and he was 
not in a state to offer resistance. The whole camp 
was taken, with all its baggage, ammunition, &c., 
and as many as two thousand prisoners and six 
pieces of artillery fell into our hands. The re- 
mains of his force fled along the great road (D), 
which was purposely left open to him. General 
Chrzanowski contented himself with occupying 
the town, in which he furnished himself with am^ 
munition from the magazines, and, remaining there 
but a short time, left for the environs of Zamosc, 
in which fortress he deposited his prisoners. Con-' 
formably to his instructions, he remained in camp, 
near this fortress, at Labunia-* 

* The reader may be pleased with a short bio^aphical sketch 
of general Chrzanowski, who distinguished himself here so much. 
This skilful officer commenced his military career in 1S15, on lead- 
ing the military school at Warsaw, as officer of the corps of engi* 
Deers, in which department he was distinguished for his skill aiid 
industry. In the year 1838, during the war of Turkey, the Em- 
peror Nicholas was desirous of obtaining the aid of Polish officers 
of engineers, and Chrzanowski was among the number chosen. 
In this campaign his talents made themselves remarked, and m9i> 
shal Diebitsch gave him great marks of confidence, and placed him 
near bis person. He returned fVom the campaign as captain, and 
received several Russian decorations. In the revolution, like a 
worthy son of Poland, he offered his services to the common cause; 
but the dictator Chlopicki, who, among his other faults, had that 
of either being unable to appreciate, or willing to disregard the 






290 THE PatlSH REVOLUTION. 

The general in chief having thos accomplished 
his object of supplying the place of general I>wer- 
nick's corps, and holding in check the corps of 
Witt and Kreutz, in the palatinate of Ltablin, it 
remained to him to complete his great plan br 
sending a corps into Litbnania. He decided a 
remove the only obstacle to this attempt bj at- 
tacking the Russian imperial guard, which was 
somewhat detached from the Russian grand armj. 
To carry this bold purpose into eflfect, the foUow- 
ing instructions were given to the diSerent com" 
manders. 

merits of the officers from among whom he was l^tnftke bis ap- 
poiBtinents, did not give any important trust to general Chrzanow- 
flki ; — perhaps it was because Chrzanowski was among the Bom- 
ber of those who were desirous of taking the field witbont ddaj. 
With the glorious commencement of the era of the command W 
oar estimable Skrzynecki, this brare officer was advanced to ^ 
rank of lieutenant colonel, and was placed in the post of chef d'^t* 
major. While In this post he was advanced to the rank of gea- 
eral. The generalissimo, who in all his plans observed the gresE- 
«st secrecy, — and his example ought to be followed by every good 
general, — ^initiated, however, Chrzanowski and Prondzynski, wiio 
succeeded the former as chef d'etat, into all his plans ; and indeed 
those two brave generals were valuable counsellors to Skrzynedd. 
AnMng other qualities necessary to a great general, Chrzanowski 
was endowed with great coolness and presence of mind, and with 
a spirit of system, which he carried into every thing which he 
undertook. He was seen in the midst of the hottest fire, with hit 
plan of the battle before him, referring the movements to the plan, 
and giving his orders with the greatest sangfroid imaginable.— 
The generalissimo could not enough regret that he had not given 
him the command of the expedition to Lithuania, in place of 
Gielgud. If the skill and coolness of Chrzanowski could have 
been united, in that expedition, vAth. the bold and adventurous 
enterprise of Dwemicki, every thing would have been efife<^ed 
there in a few weeks. 



^ 



KX/'< 




JZZX. 




, J 



\ 



t 



i 



THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 291 



OPERATIONS AGAINST THE RUSSIAN GUARD, 

[Plan XXJX.] 

Oa the* J2th of May, general Uminski with hi» 
division of cavalry (a) was ordered to quit the left 
wing and the position of £imna-Woda, and to move 
to the position of Kaluszyn. This traverse of the 
line he was to make in full View of the enemy, and 
he was to give to the manoeuvre the aspect of a 
reconnoissance. The object of this change of po- 
sition was, that in the new positiot) he might mask 
the movements of the main body. This important 
disposition general Uminski was directed to carry 
into eflFect with the utmost prudmice. The enemy 
was to be each day harassed, but never to be en- 
gaged with in any decisive manner. Small de- 
tachments were to be sent against the enemy, 
along his whole line, and especially on the first 
days of. the movement. The general in chief in- 
structed general Uminski to watch every, move- 
ment of the enemy, and give information of such 
at head-quarters. If the^main body of th^ Russian 
force should make an attack, he was ro execute 
his retreat upon the main road, as far as the forti- 
fications of Praga, and there he was to act in junc- 
tion with the other detachments left there for the 
defence of those fortifications* If, on the contrary, 
the Russian army should make a retrograde move- 
ment, general Uminski was to endeavor, by fol- 
lowing them, to keep them constantly in view. 
•If circumstances permitted, the rear guard of the 



292 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 

Russians might be harassed- during tbe night 
Above all, general Uminski was to endeavor fo 
keep up his communications with the neigkboriii^ 
corps, that of general Lubinski, and the detach 
ments left at Siennica and Karczewo. Id tb 
moderate pursuit of the enemy, the general was0 
ascertain whether their retrograde movemeot mi 
a retreat or a manoeuvre, in order to avoid eFetj 
hazard. 

General Lubinski (6), with his division of caw- 
alrj, was to pass the right bank of fAe Bug (B), 
and leaving small detachments at Wyszkow (I), 
afld ' Brook (2), he was to advance as (at as Oie 
environs of Nar (3), not quitting the right l)ank of 
the riv^r* All his care was to be devoted to the 
observing of the enemy, and to the preventing of 
any sudden passage of the river by him. In t^id 
to his communications, the same instructions welt 
given to hiaa as to general Uminski. 

Havipg given these orders to the above mcB- 
tioned corps, general Skrzynecki, with the main 
force {d).\eh suddenly the position at KalusEjB 
(4), ma^g a retrograde movement upon tke 
great road, by Minsk (6), traversed Praga (6), and 
through Jablonna (7), and Zegrz (8), arrived on 
the 15th, at Serock (9). On the 16th, he passed 
the Narew (N), at this filace, leavihg a brigade of 
infantry and cavalry (e), under general Dembinski, 
upon the right bank, with orders to advance to 
Ostrolenka (10), through the towns of Pultusk, 
Magnies-zewo and Rozany (11.) This detach- 



tUfi POLISH REVOLUTION. 293 

tkiODt was not to commence the attack on meeting 
the enemy, but was only to harass him and keep 
kirn in cheeky and detain him as near as possible 
to Serock* If the enemy should commence the 
retreat, this corps was to pursue him with the 
greatest activity, in order that at Ostrolenha, where 
the general in chief had determined to attack 
him, he might be exposed between two fires* 

On the 17tb, this corps met the first advanced 
post {/) of the Russian imperial guard at Mod* 
zele, which, after a slight engagement, evacuated 
its. position, and retired. Being pursued by the 
brigade of cavalry under general Dembinski, they, 
on the }8th, commenced the passage of the Narew, 
at Qstrolenka. In attempting this passage, the 
rear guard of the enemy was overthrown, and four 
regiments of the light infantry of Finland were 
taken prisoners. ' This pursuit by the brav^ Dem- 
binski was executed with such rapidity, that the 
corps of general Saken, which made a part of the 
grand corps of the guard, but was a little detached, 
was completely cut off from the maja body and 
forced to take refuge in the palatina^of Angus- 
vow. It is much to be regretted that our main 
force (d) could not reach Ostrolenka ; having to 
pass narrow roads, through forests, in which the 
artillery met with much* obstruction. Otherwise, 
the whole of that imperial guard would have been 
surrounded. 

With the arrival of our main body, on the night 
of the 18th, the Russians passed the Narew, but 

37 



294 THE POLISH REVOLOTIOfl. 

many voitures and stragglers fell into the hands of 
our cavalry in the forest of Troszyn (12). The 
general in chief, having given the corps a short 
rest, and having despatched a detachment, under 
the command of colonel Sierawski, for the pursuit 
of the corps of Saken, on the same night continued 
his march in pursuit of the guard, in the directioo 
of Troszyn (12). On the morning of the next 
day, arriving at Dluge-Siodlo (13), this village 
was found occupied- by two regiments of infantry 
and two of cavalry, the latter covering the village. 
Our first regiment of lancers, which were the 
leading force, leaving the forest and hnding tbe 
Russian cavalry in line before that village, threw 
themselves upon them with the rapidity of tight- 
ning. The enemy's cavalry was borne down be- 
fore ^ttiem, and pursued by our lancers into the 
village ; but his infantry, under co^er of the village, 
opened a terrible fire upon our cavalry, which 
compelled them to retire and await the arrival of 
the artillery. At length, eight pieces of light ar- 
tillery, coimnanded by colonel Boehm, arrived, and 
commence9^ vigorous fire of grape upon the vil- 
kge» whicH compelled the enemy's infantry to 
evacuate it, and they were pursued with such 
spirit, that one battalion was taken, and the rest 
were dispersed in the forest. On the same daj, 
the enemy was again pressed upon in his retr^it, 
in the environs of Xienzopol (14), especially oo 
the passage of the river and marshes of Kamionka. 
The 1st lancers, and the battery of light artil- 



tME POLISH REVOLUTION. 296 

iery, who did not quit the enemy a moment, ar* 
rived simultaneously with him at the point of the 
passage. The enemy was obliged to debouch 
under the fire of our artillery and the charges of 
our cavahry, and lost again several hundred in dead^ 
wounded and prisoners. 

I cannot give the reader a satisfactory explana^ 
tion^ why general Skrzynecki did not pursue the 
enemy on the 20th. Perhaps be considered the 
great fatigue of the army, particulariy the infantry, 
which the reader will, of course, presume to have 
been incurred by the forced march which the dis- 
tance passed over supposes. Another reason, per- 
haps, was, that he had sent from this place the 
first detachment (i) for Lithuania, wishing to be 
sure of its safe passage to the frontiers. The de- 
tachment, in fact, left on that day, in the diiection 
of M inieszew, and passed the frontier of the king- 
dom at the village of Mien, between Diechanowiec 
and Suraz, opposite Brainsk. 

Our army, having halted one day at Xienzopol, 
on the evening of the 20th, quitted this position 
to continue the pursuit of the guar^^nd overtook 
them in the forest of Menzyniu (15). This forest, 
occupied by the Russian rear guard, was so near 
the heights of the village, which command the 
whole vicinity, that it was exposed to a fire of 
artillery from these heights. Our generalissimo 
placed his artillery on the heights, and directed a 
fire upon the forest ; the infantry was ordered to 
take the enemy in front, in case he should quit the 



2B6 THE POLISH REFOLOTIOB* 

forest, and the cavalry was to advance in strong 
columns along the road, to cut off his escape fion 
the forest into the road. In this, they were soc- 
cessfii], and took many prisoners. Thus contoHi* 
ally pursued, and subject to severe losses along' the 
whole route, the ^guard (I) was agaia pressed at 
the passage of the Narew at Tykocin (16}. The 
consternation and disorder of the enemy was s«di» 
that he did not take time to destroy the farid|ge/ 
Our lancers, commanded by the brave colood 
Langerman, commenced an attack upon tbe Bas^ 
siafi cuirassiers, on the bridge itsell The regv- 
meat of cuirassiers was almost aiiBih3a%ed, anny 
being thrown from the bridge, and a great auaiber 
taken prisoners. / 

Having thus driven the Ku»ian guard froad lihe 
kingdom, (of which the Narew was the bonodaiy,) 
general Skrzynecki commenced a retrograde move- 
ment, to meet the demonstr^ljoa which genera) 
Diebitsch might make upon his rear. On the 
night of the 22d, our army (m) began this move- 
ment, bstviBg destroyed the several bridges of the 
Narew. i^ 

These then are the details of the operadoss 
upon the Russian guard, which will be admitted 
to be among the fine$t in the history ci modem 
warfare. The operations of Napoleon, in the 
campaign of Italy — the brilliant commencemeBt of 
his career, in 1 796, — will be dways cited as the 
highest examples of stratago-tactics ; bat I do not 
think that a finer and boMer plan of operations cm 



\ 



THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 297 

be.feinul even there. Id both cases, success was 
owing, not more to the great military genius of the 
leaders, than to those high moral impulses which 
must animate armies in every contest for national 
existence. 

Otir army, evacuating on the 12th, the posi- 
tion at Ealuszyn, from that date to the 26th, 
-when the battle of Ostrolenka took place, had 
passed over a distance of from 200 to 250 miles, 
which, deducting the six days occupied in action, 
W9B executed in eight days, making an average of 
twenty-eight English miles per day, an extraordi- 
nary and perhaps unexampled effort. The rapid- 
ity, in fact, with which this moveiaeiit was per- 
formed^ was such, that our forces wei« oa their 
retam before marshal Diehitsch eommeoced his 
mareh to intercept them. This object the maAihal 
thought himself in season to effect, but tbe reader 
will aee in the sequel how completely he failed 
of it. 



CHAPTER XIX. 



The LathtuniaiM comp^ two Ryanan corps to encnaie 
of general ChUpowski in tbe department of Bialootok^ — C^tne of BielaL— 
Defeat of a Rnasian force at Karewka and ezpalsion of the ememy tnm tte 
d^artment — Recapitolation of the foroea wkich had besa seat iato LMb- 
ania. — OperaUons of the main army. — ^Attempt of marshal Di^Htsch u» iste^ 
oept Skrtynecki on hu retrograde maich, by a diversion to OrtvoleDiBaj— 
General Lubinski surprises the Russian advanced goard at Cseyieirw—Mar- 
shal Diebitsch attacks the Polish rear guard at Kleczkowo. — 7^ rear goard 
quits its position at ni^t, and joins the main army »t Oilinl— Is ffaMh «f 

- Ostrolenka. 

Quitting the main army, which had thus suc- 
cessfully executed the important operation of driv- 
ing the Russian imperial guard from the king- 
dom^ and sending a corps into Lithuania, — ^we w2i 
now turn to take a view of the state of afl^irs ii 
that province. 

The brave Lithuanians in a series of bloody en- 
counters had made themselves severely felt by die 
enemy. In the . departments of Roszyienie and 
^ Szawla, at about the middle of the month of Maji 
a short time before the battle of Ostrolenka, the 
two Russian corps, under Malinowski and Szyr- 
man, were almost annihilated by the Lithuanian 
insurgents, who, night and day, falling upon them 
from forest ambuscades, subjected them to im« 
mense losses. Those corps literally wandered 
about, for some time, and being unable to hold 
themselves in any position, were forced at last to 
evacuate Samogitia. 



THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 299 

Ib the department of Bialostok^ the little corps 
recently sent under the command of general Chla- 
powskiy began its operations with great success. 
In the environs of Bielsk, that small detachment, 
composed of four squadrons of the Ist regiment of 
lancers, consisting of four hundred and eighty 
horsemen, a hundred and ninety light infantry 
volunteers mounted,^ and two pieces of cannon, 
routed two regiments of cossacks and two battal- 
ions of infantry, the latter being taken in a body 
and the former dispersed ; and, what was of much 
importance to us, in Bielsk, as well as in Brainsk, 
several magazines of powder were found. In the 
eitvirons of Bielsk, colonel Mikotin, aid-de-camp 
of the grand duke Michael, and on his way with 
despatches from him to the Grand Duke Constan- 
tine*, was taken prisoner.f 

* We found, on experiment, that this species of force acting in 
conjunction with cavalry could be used with great advantage, 
especially against a hostile cavalry. The mounted infantry were 
placed in the rear of the cavalry. When the latter advanced to 
the charge the former dismounted, and leaving their horses in 
the care of a party detailed for the purpose, dispersed themselves 
as sharp-shooters, and commenced a fire upon ^e enemy, who, 
thrown into confusion by this unexpected attack, were open to a 
destructive charge from the cavalry. 

t The capture of the town of Bielsk and its garrison was 
marked with such singular circumstances, that I think that some of 
the details will interest the reader. The small corps of general 
Ghlapowski arriving suddenly before this town, on the 33d of 
May, was informed that it had a garrison of two battalions of 
infantry, and that near the town was a body of a thousand cos- 
sacks, in camp. The advanced guard of our small corps, with 
which was the general and several of his officers, approached the 



300 THE POLISH RCrOLDTIOlV. 

The corps of general Chlapowski left Biedsk in 
the direction of the town of Orla, and entered the 
forest of Bialowiek, where he received reinforce- 
mentft of Lithuanian insurgents. 

On the same daj that oor main arrmj foaglM at 
Ostrolenka, the 26rh of Maj, tUs IhtW corps hsd 
an engagement whh the enemy in the environs of 
Narewka* A considerable Russian detaekmeof, 
under the command of general Rengardt, composed 
of 6,000 infantry, 3,000 cavalry, and five pieces of 
cannon — in all, nearly 9,000 men-^was pasted 
Bear Nasielsk. This considerable force was at- 
tacked by our small corps, to which were adAeA 
some hundreds of insurgents, making in all, 9 fefte 
of not more than a thousand men. The Russiain 
were completely beaten in this action. Fall a 



barriers of the town. The Russiao sentinel observinnf our pav^r 
and seeiBg a general officer aroong thenij^ did not recognixa chcB 
as enemies, but called the guard to give them the honons of tks 
place. General Chlapowski, on the approach of the guard, 
manded them to lay down their arms, which they did. The 
ceremony was gone through with the grand-guard in the aquan 
of the town, and the Russians mechanically obeyed these ofders, 
in a state of amazement. General Chli4>owski, fearing that ha 
might be surrounded by the cossacks, left his infaotiy volualaaiB 
to disperse any detachments of the enemy in the town that might 
rally to oppose him, and led all the artillery and cavaliy against 
the camp c^ the cossacks. The Rnssian infantry whoatlenpled 
to make a resistance in the town, were dispersed at the point of 
the bayonet, and, with the assistance of the inhabitants, th^ were 
all made prisoners ; while by the attack of the artillery and caval- 
ry, the encamped cossacks were entirely dispersed, and sevenl 
of them taken prisoners. General Chlapowski left his prisoners 
in the care of the inhabitants, taking with him only those who 
were Poles, and who volunteered their servlaes. 



THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 301 

thousand prisoners were taken, and all their artil- 
lery. An important advantage of this affair, was 
the taking of a great transport of some hundred 
vehicles with provisions, destined for the Russian 
grand army. By the dispersion and ruin of this 
corpe, the department of Bialostok was entirely 
cleared of the Russians, and nothing interrupted 
the formation and organization of the insurgent 
forces. The taking of Bielsk, and the affair of 
Narewka, will be admitted by the reader to have 
been above the rank of ordinary achievements, and 
should immortalize the handful of brave men which 
formed this detachment. They may be* pointed 
at, as examples, with many others, in this war, of 
how much can be effected by that prompt and 
energetic action which no ordinary motives will 
sustain. 

While the affairs of Lithuania and Samogitia, 
and those in the department of Bialostok, wore this 
favorable aspect, a new corps was appro3ching to 
aid this propitious state of things, to protect the 
insurrections, and, as might be confidently hoped, 
to bring them to a sure and happy result. The new 
force destined for this object consisted of the 2d 
division, reinforced by a squadron of cavalry, which 
force quitted Lomza on the 27th for Lithuania. 

Before returning to the operations of the grand 
army, we will give a short recapitulation of the 
forces which had been sent into Lithuania and 
Samogitia, at successive periods, to support the 
insurrections in those provinces. 

38 



.u 



302 THE POLISH REYOLUTiOn. 

The first corps under general Chlapowski^ left, 
on the 20th of May, the village of Xienzopol, with 
this destination : — to enter the department of Bia- 
lostok, to occupy the forest of Bialowiez, in whick 
were collected the forces of the revolted Litbuani- 
ans, with the view to organize these forces, bom 
that position to act on the Russiaa commiuiica- 
tions, and, if circumstances might allow it, to make 
an approach upon Wilna. This little corps, as we 
have seen, was composed of 190 infantry volso- 
teers mounted, the 1st regiment of lancer^ am- 
sisting of 480 horsemen, and two pieces of light 
artillery.' 

The second corps under the command of cokod 
Sierakowski, left, a few days before that of gen- 
eral Chlapowski, with the view, as we have also 
seen, to follow and observe the division of geneid 
Saken, who had been cut off by general Skrzynecii 
from the Russian guard, and compelled to remain 
on the right bank of the Narew. This corps coo- 
si^ed of two battalions of infantry of the 18fh 
regiment, recently formed, amounting to l,dGO 
men, two squadrons of horse, of Plock, also re- 
cently formed, "260 in all, and two pieces of can- 
non. This corps, in the execution of its instruc- 
tions, obtained several advantages over general 
Saken, near Stavisk. Colonel Sierakowski then 
advanced to the environs of the little town of Grai- 
evo, where he took a strong position, and awaited 
the arrival of the corps of general Gieleud. 



THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 303 

The third corps under the command of general 
Gielgud, being the second division, left the town ' 
of Liomza on the 27th of May. It was composed 
of 9 battalions of infantry, consisting of 4,500 men, 
6 squadrons of cavalry of 600 men, 160 sappers, 
amd 24 pieces of cannon. The total force of these 
three corps was then as follows : 

Artillery^ 28 pieces. Infantry^ 6,350 men. Cav-- 
alry^ 1,300. 

Besides these forces, which were detached from 
tbe grand army, there were formed in Lithuania, 
several regiments of infantry and cavalry, which 
we shall designate in the sequel, butwhiAi did not 
commence active service until the battle of Wilna. 
To return to the main army. Such was the 
rapidity with which the operations of general Skr- 
zynecfci upon the Russian guard were executed, 
that, as we have said, he was on his retrograde 
march, after having driven that guard beyond the 
frontiers, before marshal Diebltsch received intel- 
ligence of his operations. It was then that the 
Russian commander, having no hope of saving the 
guard, conceived the plan of attempting, by a 
prompt diversion towards Ostrolenka, to cut off 
the communication of our army with Warsaw. 
[See Plan XXIX.] 

With this view, he evacuated his position at 
Sucba and Mordy (o), passed by Sokolow, crossed 
the river Bug at Granne (16), entered into the 
Russian province of Bialostok, passed through a 
corner of this department on the 24th of May, and 



304 THE POLISH RETOLUTION. 

crossing the little river Nurzec (R), at CieehaiKh 
wiec (17), entered again into the Polishlerritory, 
and occupied the road of Czyzew (18) and Zain- 
browo (19). Without any delay he pushed his 
advanced guard as far as Czyzew. 

General Lubinski was then at Nur. This Ikde 
town was at the same distance from Ostrolei^ as 
CzyzeW) but the communications with OstrolcDb 
were more difficult, Czyzew being on a prtndpai 
£oad. The enemy, observing this circus^laDce, 
and taking it for granted that Lubinski was cat^ 
from the main army, sent an aid^de-camp wick a 
flag of tftice to summon him to surrender.^ T& 
summons was rejected. 



* The officer announced to general Lubinski that tiie wfade &■»> 
aian army had occupied Ciechanowiec, that the advanced gwiA 
was already at Czyzew, and that those circumstances ought v 
satisfy him that his communicatipns with his friends were entire^ 
cut off, and that therefore he would do well to lay down his anni 
and throw himself upon the magnanimity of the jpmperor. Ti 
this proposition general Lubinski replied, that although soeii 
might be his situation, he could not think of surrendering himself 
without a struggle ; and to satisfy the aid-decamp that this was 
not his individual feeling alone, but that it was partaken by the 
whole body of his soldiers, he would present him to them, and 
enable him to satisfy himself personally on this point. Tbe aid- 
de-camp was then conducted to the front of the line, and he ad^ 
dressed himself to the troops, exhibiting the circumstances under 
which they were placed, assuring them that the bravest resistance 
would be hopeless, and inviting them to surrender. This addreai 
was interrupted by a universal shout of indignation from the sol- 
diery, and they commanded him to leave their presence. This 
division was composed of two regiments of old light infantry, and 
two recently formed regiments of Mazurs. 



1^ 



J 



THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 305 

After the departure of the aid-de-camp, general 

Labinski commenced his march, and, though it was 

•{Nractieable for him to reach Ostrolenka by a direct 

foute, yet thinking it possible that Czyzew was 

not occupied by a very strong force, and that he 

•might profit by the approach of night, he deter* 

rained to march at once upon the latter place, and 

to attack the Russian advanced guard there. This 

bold thought was executed with perfect success. 

On reaching Czyzew he found two regiments of 

cavalry encamped, and wholly unprepared for an 

attack. They bad. not even an outer-guard upon 

the road to Nur. He made a charge which threw 

them into complete disorder, and compelled them 

to retreat with the loss of a great number in killed 

and wounded, and four to five hundred prisoners. 

It was to be regretted that the necessity under 

which general Lubinski was placed of reaching 

Ostrolenka as soon as possible, did not permit him 

to profit further by these advantages. 

On the next day, (the 26th) the rear-guai^ of 
our main army, consisting of the brigade of general 
Wengierski, was attacked at mid-day by the Rus- 
sians, on the side of Zambrowo, near Kleczkowo 
(20), a village situated at the distance of three 
leagues from Ostrolenka, on the left bank of the 
Narew. General Diebitsch, being under the con- 
viction that he had encountered the whole Polish 
force a Kleczkowo, consolidated his strength 
there, and determined to come to action, and, by 
BO doing, give time for another crops to advance in 



306 THE POLISH REVOLUTIOI^. 

the direction of Czyzew, and occupy Ostrolenka, 
by which movement he trusted that our army would 
be cut off from Warsaw, and forced to retire to 
Lomza. The Russian commander, presuming on 
the celerity of his movements, was so confident of 
meeting our whole army at this point, that nothing 
could excecci his surprise on learning that our army 
had already passed the town, and 4hat it was only 
the rear-guard which was before him,* In order 
to lose no time, he commenced an immediate at- 
tack on the rear-guard thus posted, at K\ec%kowa 
Our general in chief who was then at Trossyo, m 
hearing the fire of the Russians at Kleczkowo, im- 
mediately repaired thither, and profiting by t^ 
fine position of that place, which commanded the 
marshy plain on the side of the enemy, passable 
only by a dyke, the bridge over which had beet 
demolished by our troops, ordered general Wen- 
gierski to sustain himself in that position until 
night. In vain the Russian cavalry and infisintiy 
attempted to pass this dyke. At each approach 
they were uniformly driven back by a destructive 
fire of grape from our artillery. In vain were six- 
teen pieces of their artillery employed to silence 
this fire ; our position was too commanding to be 
affected by them. 

* Marshal Diebitsch must by this time have become satisfied 
that the operations, both in strategy and tactics, of the Polish com- 
mander, were the result of extensive and just combinations. Gen- 
eral Skrzynecki, in contriving this plan (with the valuable assist- 
ance of general Frondzjmski,) of surprising and defeating the 
Russian guard, had satisfied himself of the practicability of retuill- 
iog to Ostrolenka without being intercepted. 



THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 307 

The brigade of general Wengierski, having held 
out in this position, with the greatest determina- 
tion against a vastly superior force, for nine hours, 
left the place at night in the greatest order, and 
followed the main army. On the next day, the 
26th of May, our array (A) evacuated Ostrolenka, 
passed the river Narew, and took, upon the right 
bank of that river, opposite to Ostrolenka, a new 
position,* leaving the bridge partly destroyed, but 
in suoh a state that the Russian infantry might 
pass it slowly. Not long after we had occupied 
our position, the enemy commenced debouching 
over this bridge. 



BATTLE OF OSTROLENKA. [See Plan XXX. "i 

The battle of Ostrolenka, which cost us the lives 
of two brave generals, Kicki, and Henry Kaminski, 
was, in point of tactics, simply the passage of the 
river. We may presume that the intention of gen- 
eral Diebitsch was, by passing the Narew at this 
point, to send at the same time a corps to Serock, 
in order to cut off our army, and place it between 
two fires. At 11 o'clock, the Russian infantry (a) 

• The question might be asked by some, whether this battle was 
necessary, and why general Skrzynecki did not pursue his route 
to Warsaw, as he could have done without molestation. In the 
course which he took, he had two objects in view j the one was, 
to cause this destructive passage of the Narew, and thus diminish 
the forces of his enemy ; the other was, by thus occupying gen- 
eral Diebitsch to give time to general Gielgud to leave Liomza in 
safety for Lithuania. [See Plan XXIX.] 



308 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 

under the protection of a most terrible fire from 
fifty-four pieces of artillery (6), placed in a very 
strong position on the left bank of tbe Narew, 
commenced, as we have said, the passage of die 
river. General Skrzyuecki, not wishing absolutely 
to prevent this passage, placed but sixteen camioa 
in advantageous positions, on slight elevations of 
ground (d), designed to prevent the repairing of 
the bridge, and the consequent rapid passage of the 
enemy's infantry. The powerful Russian artillery 
attempted, without success, to silence these few 
pieces. Their fire was equally harmless to tiie 
main army (A) ; for the latter was withdrawn to 
an advantageous position. Our artillery, on the 
other hand, was used with great effect, being 
brought to bear directly upon the bridge. During 
these operations, the advanced guard, with all the 
baggage and ammunition of the army, received the 
order to take up the march towards Warsaw. 

At 3 o'clock, our artillery received orders to 
evacuate their position, and the skirmishers (e) 
were ordered to advance. On the cessation oJT the 
fire of the artillery, the light troops commenced a 
warm tire upon the columns of Russian infantry, 
which had already passed the bridge. The enemy, 
profiting by the withdrawal of our artillery, com- 
menced repairing the bridge, to afibrd a passage 
for large masses of infantry and artillery. A 
strong Russian column (/), after passing the 
bridge, took a direction to the left, to throw itself 
into the forest which borders on the Narew, at the 



THE POLISH RfiVOLUTIOK. 309 

distance of a quarter of a league from the bridge ; 
and by occapjing that forest and the communica- 
tions which traverse it, thejr thought to commence 
an attack upon our right wing. To have permitted 
this would have much deranged our dispositions. 
The Polish commander, observing that* a great 
bodjr of the -Russian infantry had already passed 
the bridge, and that this strong column had been 
sent to occupy the forest, ordered general Lubin- 
ski to send forward a brigade of cavalry (g)^ to 
chaise upon this column, on its march, and at the 
same time ordered general Kaminski, with a divis- 
ion of infantry, to make a charge upon the Russian 
infantry near the bridge. These tWo attacks were 
executed with great promptness and spirit, and 
were successful. The column which the cavalry 
attacked on its march to the forest, was dispersed 
with the loss of more than a hundred men left on 
the field. The attack of the division of general 
Kaminski was equally fortunate. The Russian 
columns, on receiving his charge, fell back upon 
the bridge, or concealed themselves under the 
banks of the river. These two attacks cost u»the 
lives of the two generals, Kaminski and Kicki, 
who thiyw themselves upon the enemy, at the 
head of their respective columns. Their loss was 
deeply regretted by the army and the nation. 

Although the result of these attacks was favor- 
able to us, yet, the general in chief, considering 
the terribly destructive fire of the Russian artillery, 
which commanded the whole plain near the bridge, 

39 



MO TB£ POLISH RCVOLVTraafh 

decided that the repetition of ffaem wotold oost di 
too severe a loss, and commafided both the cAvmbj 
and iafaatrj to withdraw to their former poskkMi^ 
bad to cease firing. 

At 6 o'clock, the firing on both sides had eadidj 
ceased. - Profiting by this interral, the Polish ars^ 
pursued its route, and the Russian iotaatrj a^ 
commenced debouching upon the bridge. At dodt, 
nearly the whold Polish army was on the monk io 
Warsaw, ^nd one division only [Plan XXXi. (if)] 
remained cm our position. On the part cf Ae 
Russian army, we may suppose that neady two 
divistohs had passed the bridge, when our geatsA 
in chiefs wishing to profit by the obscurity of the 
night) in order to subject the enemy to stitl greaM 
losses, conceived the bold idea of adranciog ttf 
artillery (a) so near the Russian coluoins (6), as to 
pour upon them a fire of grape-shot. Geaefil 
Skrzynecki himself approached colonel Boeiiflii 
and taking the command of the twelve pieces of 
light artillery under him, led them in persoo to ths 
•distance of withia three hundred paces of the 
enemy, and brought forward at the same time two 
regimebts of cavalry for the support of this artil- 
lery. Pkciflg this little detachment ^i a veiy 
advantageous position behind small elevatiotas of 
ground, he commanded colonel Boehm to com- 
mence firing. The Russian colunuis were dirowa 
into confusion by this unexpected and terrible fire ; 
and it may be imagined that th^ir loss was Ldb* 
. mense, ^tclosed as they were within a oairow 



THE POLISH BBVOLUTION. 6y 

fipacOf on the bank and oa tim brid^. Every dis- 
ciuu^eof the artUiery was with effect^ and by the 
testimony of the prisoners taken, their loss must 
have amounted to an entire brigade, without estir 
mating ihose who left thefieM wminded, and those 
mrho fell into the. river/ On our lidei this attack 
cost us only the loss of two offers of the artitliery^ 
although this detachment was exposed to the fir^ 
of the whole Russian artillery.* Our battery fired 
but three rounds, when the general gave the order 
to withdraw, and follow the main army (A) to 

Warsaw*! 

These are the details of the battle of Ostrolenka, 

in which the loss on the enemy's side was from 

J 0,000 to 15,000 men, and on our side, the two 

general officers above mentioned, with about 4,000 

men. 

* This fire of the Russian artillery might almost be compared to 
the terrible fire of the 35th of February, at Grochow, in the attack 
on the forest jo£ elders. 

t This manoBuvre, of bringing the artillery so near the column^ 
of the enemy, and under the terrible fire of the Russian artillery, 
was one of those bold and hazardous steps which were necessary 
for the object of reducing the immense superiority of the enemy's 
force. The personal agency of general Skrzy necki was demanded 
for a blow like this ; &nd in executing it he displayed equally the 
qualities of the soldier and the general. The admiration of his 
soldiers was excited by seeing him dismount and place himself 
with the utmost coolness at the head of this battery of artillery, 
exposed to the incessant fire of that of the enemy. Neither the 
fear of the enemy, nor the entreaties of his o^ers, who begged 
him, on their knees, to withdraw and to reserve his valuable life 
for his country, could induce him to move from his place, until he 
bad seen the successful termination of this effort. 



^3 VK rOUSU ECVOLUTIOlf. 

Oil the afternoon •f the day of the battle of Os- 
trolenka, the diyiBion of general Gielgud r e ce ife d 
orders to depart from the town of Lomza. Gen- 
eral Dembinski, on the night of the same daj^vas 
ordered to join kim with two sqaadrons oil laoem 
of Poznam. The latter general left the field of 
battle with these squadrons, and on the next dij 
jomed the divbion of general Gielgud** 



^ For diofle who bare aaserted that ^enerml Gielgud 
A-oni the main bodj of the Polish forces and compelled lo 
into Lithuania, the sending of these two squadrons cfbocen to 
join kim, will be a sufficient answer. The diTiska «C feacn^ 
Gielfud could have even remained at Lomsa for as many la JSttm 
dajs after this battle. 




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e.*^'*":^;-^"*:-::^ 







CHAPTER XX. 

OpervtuMit of Am Lithatniui corp*.— BatUe of Raygrod and defeat of the Rutf' 
aian corpa of Saken. — Importance of this firat aucceaa in Lithuania. — General 
Gielgod Beglects to follow op his adtantagea.— He loeea time by paaring the* 
Niemea aft Gielgndiaki, and eoablea the enemy to concentrate bia foix^ea in. 
Wilna. — Elntrance into Lithuania and reception by the inhabitants. — Positiov 
€f the two maiM armiee.— The B u eaia a fercea remui iaaetlTe tad raeeive* 
•nppUea from Pmaaiaw — Death of marshal Diebitscb. 

Ow the 27th of May, the corps of general Gief- 
gud, attached to which were generals Rohlandy 
Szymanowski, Dembinski, and colonel Pientkay 
left Lomza, and commenced their march into 
Lithuania. On the evening of that day, they 
arrived at Stawisk, .passing through SzczuczyA 
and Graiewo. In the last town they were joined 
by the little corps of general, then colonel, Siera- 
kowski, which, as we have already remarked, bad 
been employed in observing general Sak^n, and 
was here occupying an advantageous position* 
The force of this corps has been already stated. 



BATTLE OF RAYGROD. iPlm XXXIL] 

I have divided this battle ilito two different peri- 
ods, marked by the two different positions which 
the enemy successively took. 

On examining the plan of the first positioUv of 
the Russians, it will be at once seen that they had 
DO knowledge of the arrival of our corps. They 
supposed that they were acting against the oorps 



314 TMK POLISH RRVOLOTION. 

of colonel Sierakowski alone, and thej had con- 
ceived the design of out-flanking him. Oa the 
morning of the 29th, our whole corps, quitting the 
little town of Graiewo, met, at the distance of 
about a quarter of a league, the Russian flankers, 
against whom our own were immediately sent out. 
The Russian cavalry began to retire. Our coIuniBS 
continued their march slowlj, having the forces 
of colonpl Sierakowski in front, as an advanced 
gusird,* and we thus arrived at t)ie Isike of fiaj- 
grpf), t^e ficjvanqed guard pf^^tipg opij small de- 
t9p\kf^p^\Si pf the Russian cavalry, which letiied as 
W§ apprps^c^ied. On res^phing the lake, one a&r 
V^QCr^cl gQfird >v^r^ fired uppn ^y tt)^ Rq^ian stuc- 
^(U^t^rs, qonc^^l^d in the wpqd§ on ^e ogponte 
8)4§ of the l^Ke, which bordered upon tbo capae- 
fV^y* Colpnel Sier;^(Lpiyski repeive() orders to en- 
SAge vvith thepi. He sent forward his own light 
troops, an^ placet} two capqons li^n the caufewafi 
wit(i Yfku^k be qon^meBced a fire upon the woodhi- 
The Russian infantry instantly evacuated the 
woods, and allowed our skirmishers to occnpj 
them. By this manceuvre the Russians intended 
to lead on our forces with the view to attack them 
qiji fh^jr fifmkj janfl e^n to sprrpund them, by seod- 
^ 4ptsfihp(iepts (<3t, 6) to the righ^ sji^d lef^, as will 
be seen on the plan. Ii^ a short time our largejr 
fpCffOi UQ^f r general Gielgud, commenced deboiiph- 



^ This dbposition was made, expressly with the view of coo- 
firmins th^ Russian general in the idea, that he wad opposed hf 
Of lon^ Blefakawskr alone« 



TflE POLISH REVOLUTION. 316 

iog; between the two lakes. A strong columa (c) 
of ow infaotry took a direction towards the forest, 
to tba left, and another column (d) to that on tbid 
Tight, to dislodge the enemy, if he should be found 
40 have occupied either. At the same time our 
artillery (e)^ to the number of fourteen pieces, 
talking a position at the side of the causeway, op^ 
posite to that of the enemy (/), cooElnvenced firing. 
The whole of our cavalry, and the greater part of 
our infantry remained in the centre, and constituted 
a formidable front. 

In a few moments after these dispositions were 
made, a brisk fire of tirailleurs was commenced on 
our left wing (A). The Russian centre (B), suf- 
fering from the fire of our artillery, and taken by 
surprise at the unexpected strength of our forces, 
began to waver. This was a signal for our ad- 
vance. Colonel Pientka, who commanded the 
artillery, gave the order. A strong column of three 
battalions of infantry commenced the hurrah, and 
charged with the bayonet, upon the waverh^ col- 
umns of the enemy. At the same time, general 
Dembinski gave the order to our cavalry (g) to 
charge upon that of the enemy on the right and 
left. The first squadron^f the lancers of Poznam 
received the order to throw themselves forward, 
and fall upon the breaking columns of the enemy. 
The greatest consternation and disorder began to 
exist in the Russian ranks. It was no longer a 
retreat ; it was a flight. This squadron of lancers, 
commanded by the brave major Micielski^ per- 



316 THE POLISH KEVOLUTION. 

formed prodigies of valor. They entered tbe town 
simultaneously with the Russian colomns, citttiog 
down immense numbers of the enemy, and taking^ 
many prisoners. This squadron coarageonslj re- 
mained in the streets of the city, exposed to the 
fire of the enemy's infantry, who had occupied the 
houses, until the arrival of our own infantry. Is 
this exposed situation they lost their commander.* 

* Th« reader will allow me to ^ve some details of thifl dwiyo 
of cavalry, which was, indeed, of an extraordinary character. At 
the moment that the Russian centre began to waver y—with tbe 
view to oantiDae and augment tbe disorder of tbe enenj, and te 
break their front, order was given to the cavalry to piuli thni atr 
tacks, without intermission, on the sides of the great road. Wtdk 
this force was the 1st squadron of the lancers of Poznam, of be- 
tween SO and 100 men. This squadron threw themseivea vpoB 
the Russian columns, and, simultaneously with them, entered tbo 
town, which was full of the enemy's infantry. Far from bcinf 
discouraged by this overwhelming force, the brave Fomamiaiii 
peaetrated tbe different streets, and continued tiieir attack on tbt 
enemy on every side. But the Russian infantry protected them- 
selves within the houses, and behind the walls, and consmenced a 
ftne of musqHetry, which fell like hail upon this brave handliil ef 
lancers, so that it would have been thought that not a omui woald 
have escaped^ It was impossible for our lancers either to advance 
or retire, for the streets before them were commanded by artilleiy, 
and the enemy's columns of infantry had closed in behind tbeo ; 
there was only one outlet for them, which was by a amaU straot, 
issuing out of the town to the left, and that was also occupied by 
the enemy. There was no alternative but to force thdr way 
through it. Our Hulans then, formmg a phalanx of lances, open- 
ed a passage through the enemy, and quitted the town. It was 
here that the brave Micielski fell. The brave Poznamians, leav- 
ing the town, by the side of the lake, whither the Russian right 
wing had retreated and were about entering tbe city, presented to 
tbe Russians the impression that the city was in possession of oar 
troops, and supposing themselves between two fires, they no long^ 
er hesitated to lay down their arms to the pursuing force. 



THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 317 

« 

These several attacks, which did not occupy 
two hours, caused an immense loss to the enemy. 
Three entire battalions, which formed their right 
wing (C), consisting of 2,000 men, were taken 
prisoners, with three superior officers, and fourteen 
of a lower grade. By the entry of our forces, the 
enemy were driven from the town, and look an- 
other position (D) upon elevated ground, on the 
opposite side of a small stream, near the town. 
This position was strong, and commanded the town 
and the whole of the other side of the stream. 
General Saken would certainly have remained long 
in this position, if our right wing under colonel 
Koss had not, as we shall see, succeeded in passing 
the stream at a higher point (t), and acting on his 
flank. The Russian general, as soon as he had 
established himself in his new position, commenced 
a fire upon the tawn, which was returned by our 
artillery. It was during this fire that colonel Koss 
succeeded in passing the. stream, at a quarter of a 
league above the city, on the right. This was ef- 
fected by demolishing the buildings in the vicinity, 
and making a passage for the artillery from their 
materials. General Saken, seeing his left wing 
thus menaced, evacuated his position, in which, as 
we have said, but for this attack on his flank, he 
coold have well supported himself for some time. 

At 3 o'clock the Russians commenced their re- 
treat upon the road to Kowno, and thus terminated 
a battle of the most advantageous character for us, 
and with which begins an important era in our afiairs. 

40 



318 TH£ POLISH EfiVOLCTIOH. 

By this battle the Polish forces had made the 
acquisition of great advantages, both in respect to 
strategy and tactics, and the highest hopes might 
reasonably be cherished in regard to the future. 

It was, as it were, a return of the state of things 
brought about by the victory of Igani, and which 
menaced the enemy with total ruin. Our main 
army was then near to Warsaw, composed of a 
force of considerable strength, and which, aoder 
the command of Skrzynecki, had been victorioos 
in every battle. New troops had been formed 
there. Neither provisions nor forage bad failed, 
for they were constantly sent from Warsaw to t]be 
army, in whatever quarter it might be. 

The Russian army was, in the mean while, soF* 
fering under all the disadvantages which we hare 
before described. Wearied and discouraged by the 
disasters of the campaign, posted in regions wkich 
they had devastated, and therefore sufiering from 
scarcity ; without hospitals for their sick and their 
wounded, — for the towns which contained them 
had been destroyed, — and with the cholera ravag- 
ing their ranks, that army was in the most precari- 
ous situation. The communications between the 
Russian provinces and the army were entirely cot 
off by the Polish Lithuanian corps. They received 
their provisions exclusively from Prussia ; and, but 
for this assistance of Prussia, no one can deubt 
that Diebitsch would have been, before this, under 
the necessity of withdrawing from the country. 
The reader will also remember that at this time, 






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' THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 319 

the brave and skilful general Chrzaaowski, had 
obtained repeated advantages over Rudiger, in the 
environs of Zamosc, and that the little corps of 
general Chlapowski which had entered, on the 20th 
of May, the Russian department of Bialostok, was 
acting with great advantages. From the Baltic to 
the Black Sea, the provinces of Podolia, Volhynia, 
Ukraine, as well as Lithuania and Samogitia, con- 
taining a population of twelve millions of inhabit- 
ants, were in a state of excitement, and would 
soon have risen in the holy cause. They were 
waiting only the arrival of our victorious troops. 
It cannot but be assumed, therefore, that If general 
Gielgud, at the head of the Polish corps in Lithu- 
ania, had acted with promptness and energy, the 
most happy results would have been achieved. It 
is, therefore, with the deepest chagrin, that I have 
to record that from the moment of the termination 
of the fortunate battle of Raygrod, all the opera- 
tions of general Gielgud were not only deficient in 
©oergy, but altogether wrongly planned. The first 
fault which he committed, was not continuing to 
press the attack upon jgeneral Saken, after he had 
retired from Raygrod. Under the pretext that the 
sol<liers were fatig;ued, the corps was encamped. 
This pretext was groundless, for the soldiers them- 
selves demanded to be led in pursuit of the enemy. 
In this camp we passed the whole night, and left 
it [Plan XXXUl.] at the hour of nine the follow- 
ing morning; having given fifteen hours to the 
retreating enertiy. We continued our march to 



320 THE FOLISH RKVOLUTIOK* 

K0WDO9 through the duchj of Augustow. On the 
30th of May, we arrived at Suwalki (1) its capita), 
and remahied there a day and a night, without any 
conceivable reason. The enemy, profiting by the 
slowness of our movements, escaped the certain 
destruction with which he had been threatened. 
On the first of June, we arrived at Kalwaryia (2), 
and at that town our corps was very uselessly di- 
vided into two parts, the larger («), under general 
Gielgud, took the road to Oielgudiski (3), 00 the 
Niemen,* to pass the river at that point. Geoeni 
Dembinski, with the remainder of the corps (6), 
continued on the main road, and on the 3d o( iuiie 
arrived at Alexota (4). 

This separation of our forces into two bodies, to 
pass the Niemen at Gielgudiski, was not recoo- 
mended by any conceivable advantage, and, indeed 
operated much to our injury. This plan of open- 
tions was also in opposition to the instructions, not 
only of the general in chief, but of the National 
Government, and obstructed the rapid execution of 
the great designs of the campaign. 

In any plan for the occupation of a foreign coun^ 
try, the fijst object should be to get possession of 
the principal towns, for at those points are chiefly 
concentrated both the moral and physical resources 
of th^e country. Of Lithuania, the town of Wilna 
(5) is the capital. Against it all our plans shouU 
have been directed ; and, in fact, the instructions 

* Gielgudiski was tho paternal estate of the Polish generaL 



THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 321 

of the government to general Gielgud were all to 
this effect. By a prompt occupation of that city, 
we should have unquestionably reaped the greatest 
advantages. As Wilna was the residence of the 
principal officers of the government of the province, 
it would liave been there that all the arrangements 
-could best be made for a provisional administration, 
and for the convocation of a conventional Diet of 
the people. In regard also to the formation of 
new forces, Wilna was the place that presented 
the greatest facilities. 

Taking all these circumstances into view, it 
must be conceded that after the battle of Raygrod, 
the first object of general Gielgud ought to have 
been to march upon a(id to occupy Wilna with the 
utmost promptness. With this view, his course 
should have been, after masking his movement at 
Kowno, to have passed the Niemen (N) at Rum- 
szyski (6), a village which was about sixteen 
English miles above Kowno (7) and in the direc- 
tion of Wilna, while Gielgudiski, on the other hand, 
was thirty-two miles below Kowno, and forty^ 
eight from Rumszyski, and out of the direction of 
Wilna. With the exception of that of general 
Saken, no other Russian force was interposed be- 
tween us and Wilna. Indoed the corps of general 
Cblapowski (c), with which he had traversed the 
department of Bialostok, was at that moment be- 
tween Kowno and Wilna, and had we passed at 
Rumszyski, we should have been within but one 
day's march of him. It is evident, then, that 



S22 THE POLISH RSTOLirriOlf. 

Wilaa woald have fallen into our hands without a 
blow. All these advantages were sacrificed by 
making the passage at Gielgudiski. General Sa* 
ken, meeting with no interruption, thus escaped a 
second time, and marched from Kowno to Wiioa« 
At the same time several other Russian Corps be- 
gan to concentrate themselves at Wilna. 

The corps of general Dembinski, having main- 
tained a moderate fire upon Kowno for two dajs, 
in order to mask our movements from the enem/, 
marched for Gielgudiski, to follow the other carpi 
in the passage of the river, at that point, mi the 
7th of June. Our troops thus entered the province 
of Lithuania, an interesting day for us, thus engag- 
ed in the effort to re-unite ])iis dissevered portioB 
of our country to its ancient parent. The manner 
in which the inhabitants of every village received 
us, expressive of the warmest satisfaction, showed 
that they regarded us as brothers. This receptioo 
deeply affected both soldiers and officers. The/ 
hailed us as their deliverers, and it is now a mourn- 
ful reflection that, owing to the misconduct of our 
commanders, that enthusiasm, instead of lesdiag 
to happy results, proved, in the end, only an ag- 
gravation of their misfortunes. 

Leaving the corps of general Gielgud upon the 
Niemen, we will return again to the operations of 
the grand army, and of the different detached 
corps. Our main body, which, after the battle of 
Ostrolenka, retired towards Warsaw, was now at 



THE POLISH REVOLUTION. S2S 

Praga, where the head-quarters of the commander 
in chief were fixed. General Skrzyneckiy during 
the repose of the armj, occupied himself with its 
re-organ ization« 

In the environs of Samosc, the corps of general 
Chrsanowski, in which the brare general Roma- 
rino commanded a brigade, was sufficient to keep 
the different Russian corps in check. 

On the 3d of June, the Russian army, which, up 
to the present time, continued in the environs of 
Ostrolenka, on the left bank of the Narew, com* 
menced its operations upon the right bank of that 
river* A considerable corps, amounting to 20,000 
oien, passed that river in the neighborhood of 
Prasnjsz. The principal object of this corps was 
not to recommence hostilities, but to protect the 
large transports of provisions which were sent daily 
from Prussia. In the environs of Brzesc was the 
corps of general Kreutz. The Russian army thus 
fed by Prussia, remained inactive in their position 
at Ostrolenka, during which interval, and while 
he was perhaps contriving new plans for our sub- 
jugation, occurred the sudden death of marshal 
Diebitsch. He died at Kleczkowo, not far. from 
Ostrolenka^ on the 9th of June.^ 

* The reader may be curious to know some details of the career 
of marshal Diebitsch. He was bom in Silesia, not far from Wro- 
claw, the capita] of that province. His father was a major in th« 
Prussian service, and young Diebitsch was sent by him at an early 
age to the military school at Berlin. It was, perhaps, in about the 
year 1805, that he first entered the Russian military service, as a 
cadet in one of the regiments of the guard, from which be was, in 



9Z\ THE rOLJSH BETOLUnOR. 



The pfforisiooal commauid of the 
was taken by general TolL 

If the reader should examine doselj tbe €>pen* 
tjons of the two armies after the battle of Ostro- 
lenka, he will, perhaps, be astonished at their in- 
activity. He will, however, acknowledge tkat the 
blame of that inactivity cannot rest npon the Po- 
lish side. The retreat which we made was neces- 
sary ; first, for the sake of the re-organizing of the 
army; secondly, for the object c^ leading the ene- 
my to the environs of Praga, which were in a stBie 
of devastation, and generally into the region be- 
tween the Bug and the Liewiec, where he WQa\6 
not be able to support himself; and in this manner 

to force him either to attack the fortifications of 

•\ 

1907, transferred to the corps of engineers. In this aer v i ee ht 
advanced rapidly, not so much by real talent, as by a eertam art 
which he had of exhibiting himself to the best adyantage. In tbe 
place of aid-de-camp to the late emperor Alexander, to which hi 
was soon advanced, he was known to have intrigaedin oppositiaa 
to the interest of Poland. These intrigues, as well as those whidi 
he aflerwards practised, to supersede Wittgenstein, in the com- 
mand of the army against Turkey, degraded him in the esteem of 
all upright men. He was never regarded by us as a general of 
talent, and the truth of our estimate will be fay this time conceded 
One cannot but be impressed with the fate which has awaited 
the two greatest enemies of Poland, Diebitsch and Constantine. 
Arrested by Providence, amid the persecutions which they had 
inflicted, and were designing to inflict upon our coimtry, they 
perished in disgrace. They died acting the part of the enemies 
of humanity, and their names thus rest, sealed with the eternal 
reproach of history. Here is a fate which ought to alarm despots. 
The thought that in the moment that they are most deeply engaged 
in contriving the oppression of their fellow-men, a sudden death 
may come upon them, and thus stigmatize their names forever^ 
should teach them an impressive lesson. 



THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 325 

l^raga, to attempt a passage of the Vistula, or to 
evacuate the country. That either of the two first 
would be attempted, while the insurrections in 
Lithuania and Samogitia, &c. were in progress, 
and after our success at Rajgrod, was hardly to 
have ffeen expected ; for the one would cost too 
great a sacrifice of men, and the other would be 
attended with too much hazard. If, then, the 
Russian forces undertook nothing, it was a conse- 
quence of their critical situation. We can, in fact, 
safely assume that it was their intention to evacu- 
ate the country ; for to have obtained suiSicient 
supplies by their own means was almost impracti- 
cable. When, therefore, this army remained there, 
it was only because it vfiis fed by Prussia, who did 
not scruple openly to succor the enemy in his per- 
ilous position, by sending enormous transports by 
the roads of Neydenburg and Mlawa. It was 
those transports which saved the Russian army 
from the utmost extremity. I leave to the reader 
to judge, then, whether it was with one enemy 
alone that the Poles had to contend. The Prus- 
sian government, which arrested all the volunteers 
who were passing through its territory to. augment 
our ranks, and which stopped all the aids of money 
and arms sent to us by the generous friends of lib- 
erty in other countries, took every occasion to aid 
and protect our enemy. If that government has 
satisfied its own inhuman will, by this interference 
to injure a cause so sacred as that of the Poles, 
they have unintentionally aided that cause by rais- 

41 



326 THB POLISH REVOLUTION. 

ing its merits in the eyes of the present and future 
ages, who will know with what difficulties we had 
to struggle. In return for these good offices of the 
Prussian government, the Poles will onlj say: — 
" Przyidzie kryska na maljska," — " Everj one has 
his turn.'' * 

If the two main armies were at rest, it was doC 
so with the corps in the palatinate of Lublin, where 
general Chrzanowski beat, on the 10th of June, 
general Rudiger, between Zamosc and Vchaniaf 
and took from him numerous prisoners. Geaeral 
Rudiger was forced, by this action, to retire to 
Lublin, and to cease offensive operations. Gen- 
eral Chrzanowski then prepared to surprise this 
corps, with the aid of the ^rrison of Zamosc 

It was on the 12th of June, that after being ap- 
prized of the continual victories of general Chr&- 
nowski, the general in chief concluded to re-com* 
mence. hostilities. His plan was, to act in concert 
with this corps, and to crush the enemy in all tbe 
southern parts of the kingdom. He would after- 
wards have to do only with the Russian main army, 
which had commenced passing the Narew, and en- 
tering into the Palatinate of Plock, to keep its 
communications open with Prussia, aikl where it 
would have been in a manner cooped up between 
the Narew and the Vistula, with insurrectionized 
Lithuania in its rear, and our army in its front or 
flank, according as that army should operate, at 
Stanislawow, at Wyskow, or at Ostrolenka. 



THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 327 

It was here again that our commander in chief 
felt his hopes renewed, confiding always in the 
fortunate result of the operations in Lithuania, 
which had so happily commenced ; but he was to 
be again mournfully disappointed, by the pusilla- 
nimity of the generals to whom the all-important 
expedition to Lithuania had been entrusted. 



CHAPTER XXI. 

Genenl Gielgad idvances into Lithaania. — ^AUowi a Roniaa coipt to pim 
within a league of hint unperceiyed. — Operationa on Wilna, — EmuDention d 
oat preaent force. — Plan of a simnltaneoos attack npon WUna on opyoa i ti 
sides by the corps in two divisions.— General Depbinski engages tbe eaeay 
with tbe smaller part of the corps. — Beiog unsupported by Gielgad, is focccd 
to retreat. — General Gielgud attacks Wilna. — Battle of Wilna. — A retreat n 
commenced.— Prodigious efforts of the Polish caTalry in protectiDg tkii 
retreat^— Consequences of the repulse from Wilna. — ^The remoTal of geoeid 
Gielgud is called for. — General Chlapowski consents to take the Tirtnal c<m- 
mand of the corps, in the post of chef d'etat major. — ConsideraUoa oe the 
state of things consequent to the battle of Wilna. — ^Details of tiie adaai^b^ 
plan of operations proposed by colonel Valentin, 

ft 

The forces of general Gielgud having thus crossed 
the Niemen, passed a night at Rewdanj, and the 
next day [Plan XXXIV.] marched on to Czay- 
kiszki (1), in the direction of Keydany. We can- 
not understand why general Gielgud did not attad 
Malinowski (6), who passed at the distance of bali 
a league from us, at the head of 6,000 men, on his 
march to Wilna* It is, we believe, a thing un- 
heard of in the history of military affairs, that an 
inferior force should be suffered to pass, unmolest- 
ed, so near a hostile army. It discovered the very 
last degree of carelessness, to enter a country in 
the occupation of the enemy, without sending out 
even the ordinary reconnoissances. General MaFK 
nowski,* with his corps, which ought to have fallen 

* This general Malinowski, as was generally understood, was a 
native of Mohilew, or Little Russia, a province of ancient Poland, 
and bad been long in tbe Russian service. The Lithuanians and 
Samogitians had much reason to complain of his conduct in those 
provinces. 









\ 



) 



i~\^ 



i^ I 



6 




THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 329 

into our hands, escaped, and made the second Rus- 
sian force whicti had owed its safety to our negli- 
gence, and contributed a new accession to the 
forces which we should have to contend with. 

On the 10th of June, the corps arrived at Keyda- 
ny (2), in which place it was joined by general 
Chlapowski with his corps, which had so success- 
fully traversed** the departments of Bialostok and 
Grodno. 

This force, which, on quitting Xienzopol, amount^ 
ed to scarce 1,000 men, received reinforcements of 
cavalry and infantry, from the insurgents of the 
provinces, through which it had passed.* From 
the new forces, ten squadrons of cavalry, counting 
nearly 1,200 horse, and two battalions of infantry, 
amounting to nearfy 1,800 men, were formed. 

On the 11th of June, the united corps quitted 
Keydany, to march to Zeymy (3), where we ar- 

* Among the Lithuanians who hastened to join our ranks, and 
aid in the restoration of their beloved country, were several of the 
fair sex, — generally from the principal families of the province. 
There were personally known to me the following, whose names 
I deem it an honor to record: — Plater, Rasinowicz, Rarwoska, 
M Asusewicz, Zawadzka, and Lipinska. The countess Plater, per- 
haps, should receive a more especial notice. This young heroine 
joined our corps with ^, regiment of from Hre to six hundred Lith- 
uanians, raised and equipped at her own expense, and she waa 
uniformly at their head in the midst of the severest engagements^ 
How strongly do such examples ^rove the sacred nature of our 
cause ! What claims must not their country have presented to the 
minds of these females of the most exalted character, to have in- 
duced them thus to go out of their natural position in society, and 
to sacrifice domestic happiness, wealth, life itself, in the effort to 
rescue that country from her d^adation ! 



330 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 

rived at night. In thi? little town we remained 
several days, we know not for what object. From 
this place general Chlapowski was sent with a* de- 
tachment, consisting of the 1st regiment of lancers 
and five pieces of light artillery, to make reconnois- 
sances in the direction of VVilna. The new forces 
of which we have just spoken, were attached to 
the main body, under general Girfgud. A few 
hundred of insurgent cavalry of Lithuania also ar- 
rived at Zeymy, which were joined to the hocers 
of Poznam and the 3d regiment of lancers. 

.On the day of our departure, general Szyma- 
nowski received orders to leave for Polonga with a 
small corps of insurgents (c) from the department 
of Szawla. This corps consisted of 1,500 infantry, 
400 light cavalry, and two pieces of cannon. 

As it was from Zeymy that we commenced oor 
operations upon Wilna, after having organized the 
new forces ; and as from this point begins an era 
in the history of the expedition, it may be well to 
give a new enumeration of our forces. Our infan- 
try consisted of 13 battalions of infantry, amount- 
ing in all to nearly 8,700 men, including a body of 
sappers ; our cavalry of 24 sqliadrons, amounting 
to about 2,760; and our artillery of ,29 pieces of 
cannon. To these forces we might add ^ detach- 
ment of 500 men and 100 horse, acting indepen- 
dently as a corps of par tizans, under colonel Za- 
liwski. This corps of colonel Zaliwski was form- 
ed in the duchy of Augustow, with the destination 
to operate there upon all the demonstrations of the 



THE POLISH REYOLUTIOr^. 331 

eoemy, on his communications, his magazines^ bis 
baggage, bis transportations of provisions, &c.; 
and when it is considered that this officer remained 
for four months thus successful!)^ employed, and 
exposed to the enemy's forces on all sides, a par- 
ticular acknowledgement is due to him for his mer- 
itorious services. In the above enumeration we 
have, of coursi^, excluded the force of general Szy- 
manowski, which, as we have stated, received an- 
other destination. 

With the forces which we have enumeratejd^ 
general Gielgud left Zeymy on the 14th of June. 
The operations on Wilna were planned for an at- 
tack on two sides, and with that view general 
Dembinski was detached with a small corps (d) of 
1,200 infantry, 900 cavalry, and 4 pieces of cannon. 
This general was to attack Wilna on the road from 
WHlcomierz to that city, at the same time that the 
larger force (e) made the attack on the road from 
Kowno, on the left bank of the river Wilyia. This 
plan demanded the most exact communication be- 
tween the two attacking corps. That communica- 
tion was not observed, and, in fact, as it will be 
seen, the plan itself was not executed. 

The corps of general Dembinski reached Wieprz 
(4), on the river Swieta, on the 14th of June. On 
the next day it passed that river, and arrived at 
Szerwinty (5). From thence, after resting for a 
few hours, the corps marched to Myszegola (6), 
where it passed the night. On the 16th, leaving 
thjs village, after a march of two leagues, the corps 



332 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 

began to meet with small detachments of the ene^ 
mj's Circassian cavalry.* General Dembinski gave 
the order to throw forward the flankers. The Cir- 
cassians commenced a retreating fire, and, thus 
engaged with them, we approached within a leagoe 
of Wilna, taking a position at Karczma-biskupia 
(7), or The Tavern of the Bishop, a large public 
house, surrounded by small dwellings, and whicb 
was in rather a commanding situation. 

On the i7th, general Dembinski sent parties o/ 
cavalry to the right as far as the river Wilyia (W), 
and to the left as far as Kalwaria, (8), to make re- 
connoissances, and advanced with the body of the 
corps in the centre, for the same object. In these 
reconnoissances a constant fire of flankers was kept 
up, with which the whole day was occupied. It 
was a great fault in general Dembinski, to have 
commenced this fire, without having any intelli- 
gence of the situation of the corps of general Giel- 
gud, with which he was to act in concert. On the 
morning of the same day, in fact, on which general 
Dembinski was thus employed, the corps of gen- 
eral Gielgud was at the distance of thirty-sL\ Eng- 
lish miles from him. By these imprudent recon- 

* This was a formidable force from the proTince of Circassift, 
consisting of two regiments, amounting to about $,000 men, which 
had recently arrived at Wilna. It was a species of light cavalry, 
of the most efficient character. The fleetness of their horses was 
such, that they would often throw themselves in the v^y midst of 
our flankers, and having discharged their arms, retreat in safety. 
They were armed with two pistols, a long fusil, a sabre, a long 
knife, and a lance. « 



THE POLISH REVOLUTIOIf. 333 

noissances, general Dembinski laid open all bis 
forces to tbe knowledge of the enenij. Of tbis 
fault the enemj took advantage on the next day. 

On the 18th, at sunrise, clouds of Circassian 
cavalry made their appearance, and commenced 
attacks upon our flanks, endeavoring to turn them. 
Several columns of Russian infantry then approach- 
ed, and manceuvred upon our centre, on which 
also 12 pieces of Russian artillery of large calibre 
commenced firing. Other columns of cavalry ma- 
Doeuvred upon our wings. As far as we could 
judge, the enemy's forces amounted to about 8,000 
men. General Dembinski, seeing the strength of 
the enemy, and appreciating his own danger, gave 
orders for a retreat, which was commenced under 
a terrible fire from the enemy's artillery, and from 
his flankers, who harassed us on every side. The 
retreat was executed in the greatest order, as far 
as Myszegola, a distance of twelve miles from our 
position, with tbe loss only of some fifty cavalry. 
On arriving at Myszegola, general Dembinski, 
concerned at receiving no intelligence from general 
Gielgud, sent an officer with a report of what had 
occurred. That officer found general Gielgud with 
bis corps, at Oyrany, occupied in making the pas- 
sage of the Wilyia, at that place. The report of 
general Dembinski, as we can assert from personal 
knowledge, gave a faithful description of tbe oc- 
currences of the preceding days, and contained a 
request, that, in case he (Dembinski) was expect- 
ed to maintain the position in which he then was, 

42 



334 THE POLISH R£VOLUTIOlV« 

general Gielgud must send him reioforcemeDts of 
infantrj and artillery. The report finished witli 
the suggestion, that it would be, under all circum- 
stances, the course most expedient, to re-nnite his 
forces with those of general Gielgud. Upon tbe 
receipt of this report, to which general Gielgud 
gave little attention, orders were sent to general 
Dembinski to depart for Podbrzeze (9), eight miles 
to the left of the road which leads from Willeonii- 
erz to Wilna. The pretext of this order was to 
attack Wilna on the side of Kalwargi, and to pass 
the river Wiljia at that point. Thus, instead of 
being allowed to unite his corps with that of gen- 
eral Gielgud, as he had proposed, general Dem- 
binski was ordered to remove to a still greater 
distance, a disposition for which we can conceive 
no possible motive. On the 19th of June, the dij 
on which general Gielgud commenced his attack 
on Wilna, general Dembinski was thus eoaplojed 
on his march, without an object, to Podbrzeze. 



BATTLE OF WILNA. [Plan XXXV.] 

The battle of Wilna was, in point of tactics, 
simply a strong attack upon the Russian centre 
{A), with the view, by forcing it, to pass on to 
the occupation of the city. The adoption of such 
a plan supposes an ignorance of the nature of the 
position of the enemy, and of the strength of hb 



TH£ POLISH REVOLUTION. 335 

forces.* Indeed any plan of attacking this city 
on its strongest side, that toward Kowno, was 
almost impossible of execution. 

The battle commenced on the morning of the 
19th of June. The enemy was dislodged from his 
first position, which was about one mile from the 
city. Their retreat was caused by a spirited charge, 
by the Ist regiment of lancers, upon the Russian 
artillery, and the columns of infantry in the centre. 
The enemy, on quitting this position, took another 
of great strength on the heights called Gory -Kon- 
arski (B). This strong position was already cov- 
ered with fortifications. The right wing of the 
enemy (C), composed of strong columns of infant- 
ry (a), rested on the river Wilyia ; the centre, (A), 
embracing all their artillery, which consisted of 
50 pieces of cannon (6), occupied the heights 
above mentioned ; the declivity of those heights 
was covered with sharp-shooters (rf), concealed 
behind smaH heaps of earth, thrown up for this 
purpose. The left wing of the enemy (D), was 
entirely composed of cavalry (c). 

After driving the Russians from their first posi- 
tion, our artillery (/) was brought forward and 
placed opposite the enemy's centre. This is to be 
regarded as a great fault. At the same time that 
our artillery was thus disposed, our left wing re- 
ceived orders to attack the right wing of the ene- 

* As we have been infbrmed, Wilna was defeDded by five corps, 
consistiog in all, of about 90,000 men, under generals Kurata, 
Tolstoy, Saken, Maliaowski, and Szyrman, 



336 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 

mj, The columns of our infantrj (g)^ composed 
in part from the new Lithuanian levies*, threw 
themselves with such fury upon the eneoiy, that 
they did not give them even time to fire, bat 
fought them hand to hand : an immense slaughter 
ensued, and the Russians began to give way be- 
fore this desperate assault ; but at this very mo- 
ment, our artillery, who could not sustain them- 
selves under the overpowering fire of the enemj 
from his commanding position, began to fall back ; 
and this gave time to the Russians to seod fresh 
bodies of infantry to support their right wing. Our 
left wing, being unable to sustain a confioct Viih 
the reinforced strength of the enemy, and appre- 
hensive of being cut off, to which hazard they 
were exposed by the retreat of our artillery, 
began .to give way also, and upon that a retreat 
commenced along our whole line, under the pro- 
tection of the cavalry (A). The cavalry, both oU 
and new, performed prodigies of valor, in execut- 
ing this duty. Single squadrons were obliged to 
make charges against whole regiments of the ene- 
n)y, who constantly pressed upon us, with the ob- 
ject of throwing our forces into disorder. All the 
efforts of the enemy were thwarted, by this deter- 
mined bravery. The Russians themselves have 
borne testimony to the unparalleled efforts of our 
cavalry on that occasion. Our lancers seemed 



* This Lithuanian force conBisted of the regiment of the countMi 
Plater, who accompanied them in the charge. 



THB POLISH REVOLUTION. 337 

to feel the imminent danger of permitting the Rus- 
sian cavalry to fall upon our ranks, and thej fought 
with the energy of desperation. They repelled 
the attacks of a cavalry three times superior in 
force, and which was in part composed of regi- 
ments of the imperial guard. 

The enemy having been thus foiled in his attacks, 
our forces repassed in safety the bridge of Oyrany, 
leaving it destroyed. 

The battle of Wilna, so disastrous to us, was 
our greatest fault in the expedition to Lithuania; 
and it was the first of a series of disasters. The 
evil consequences of this battle did not rest with 
ourselves; they fell heavily upon the inhabitants 
of Wilna, whose hopes of acting in concert with us 
were disappointed. At the sound of our cannon, 
a revolt of the inhabitants was commenced, and 
after the repulse of our forces, arrests and impris- 
onments of course followed. This unfortunate 
battle, in fine, disorganized all the plans of the 
main army, and had a most discouraging effect 
upon the spirits both of the army and the nation. 
An attack upon Wilna, at a time when all the en- 
emy's forces were concentrated there, should only 
have been made upon the basis of the most exten- 
sive and carefully adjusted combinations. A sue* 
cessful attack on Wilna would have been a diflScult 
achievement, even by a force equal to that of the 
enemy, when the strong positions of the place are 
considered. What then shall we say of an attack, 
with a force amounting to but one third of that 



338 THE POLISH REVOLOTlOn. 

• 

of the enemj, and made also, in broad day, opoa 
the most defensible point of the enemj's position ? 
But, as if these disadvantages were not enough, 
general Dembinski, after having been compromit- 
ted at Myszegola, instead of being enabled to aid 
in this attack, was, by the orders of general Giel- 
gud, at the very moment of the attack, marching 
in the direction of Podbrzeze, [(9) Plan XXXIV.] 
and was also by this separation exposed even to 
be cut off by the enemy, who could easily bare 
done it, by sending a detachment for this inject oa 
the road from Wilna to Willcomierz. 

This succession of inconceivable faults anesteA 
the attention of the corps, and created an univer- 
sal dissatisfaction. The removal of general Gid- 
gud, and the substitution of general Chlapowski in 
the chief command, who had distinguished himself 
so much in the departments of Bialosiok and 
Grodno, was loudly called for. General Chlapow- 
ski was unwilling to take the chief command, but, 
to satisfy the wishes of the corps, he consented to' 
toke the office of chef d'etat major, a post in which 
he was virtually chief, having the exclusive respon- 
sibility of every operation. To this arrangement 
general Gielgud readily consented. It took effect 
on the evening of the 20th. From that day gen- 
eral Chlapowski was the director of all our opera- 
tions. 

After all these disasters, which had both mor- 
ally and physically weakened us, and with a clear 
knowledge of the amount of the enemy's strength, 



THE POLISH REYOLOTIOlf. 339 

our leaders should have been satisfied that it mast 
be out of the question with us to act anj longer 
in the offensive, and that our whole plan of oper- 
ations on Samogitia ought to be abandoned. We 
will give the reader an exposition of the views of 
a great majority of the officers of the corps, upon 
this point, formed even during the battle of Wilna. 
It was near mid-day on the 19th, and when our 
line was connnencing their retreat, that colonel Val- 
entin, with several other officers, addressed them- 
selves to general Glelgud, represented to bim the 
disastrous situation in which we were placed, and 
proposed to him a plan of operations adapted to 
our new circumstances. There was^ in their opin- 
ion, but one course to pursue. This was, to aban- 
don our whole plan of operations between the 
rivers Niemen, Dwina, and Wilyia. The space 
enclosed between these rivers, the Baltic Sea and 
the Prussian territory, was a dangerous position 
for us, as it contracted our movements, and at the 
same time exposed us to being surrounded by the 
superior forces of the enemy. Colonel Valentin 
designated, as the most eligible line of operations, 
the space between Kowno and Lida. From this 
oblique line we could at any moment menace 
Wilna. He proposed to pccupy Kowno, and to 
fortify that town as well as Alexota and Lida in 
the very strongest manner. On this line we should 
have been in a situation to profit by any advanta- 
geous opportunities which the negligence of the 
enemy might leave to us, of acting upon Wilna ; 



340 THE POLISH REVOLUTION* 

and if we might not be fortunate enough to sur- 
prise that citjy we should, at least, compel the 
Russians to keep a strong force within its walls, 
as fi garrison. The town of Lida touches upon 
the great forest of Bialowiez. It is situated at 
the meeting of three great roads, viz. those from 
Poland, from Volbjnia, and from the proTince 
of Black Russia, a circumstance in its positiot 
which made it a place of great importance. The 
communications of the town with the neighboring 
forest were extremely easy, and this forest cakmel 
Valentin designed a place of concentradon for all 
the insurgent forces of Lithuania and tlie oilbei 
provinces. He proposed to fortify, in the strong- 
est manner, all the roads which concentrated here, 
and thus to make the position difficult and dan- 
gerous of access to the enemy. This forest, 
which is more than one hundred and twenty Eng- 
lish miles in length, and from thirty to sixty in 
breadth, reaches the great road which passes by 
Bielsk, from Warsaw- to St. Petersburgh and Mos- 
cow, and extends northwards- to the environs of 
Wilna. 

By means of prompt operations, according as 
circumstances might direct, our forces could act 
upon each of these roads, and could obstruct all 
the communications of the enemy with St. Peters- 
burgh and Moscow. Colonel Valentiii, in propo- 
sing this plan, also gave much weight to the con- 
sideration that our main army under general 
Skrzynecki, was victorious in the vicinity of War- 



THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 341 

saw, and that general Chrzanowski was with a 
corps in the environs of Zamosc, having been vic- 
torious over Rudiger, and on. the point of entering 
into Volhynia ; with this latter corps, a junction 
could easily be effected, and the two corj)s could 
act in concert, for the support of the insurrections 
which might occur in all the provinces between 
thq Dnieper and the Black Sea ; and even if all 
these great advantages, which we should have 
been justified in counting upon, had not been at- 
tained, we should, at least, have compelled the 
enemy to retain a great body of forces in Lithu- 
ania, and thus have hindered him from reinforcing 
his main army** 

* Thiisi valuable officer, colonel Valentin, unfortunately lost his 
llfb on the day afler the battle of Wilna, while bathing in the 
Wllyia. The regrets of his brother officers were aggravated by 
their sense of the value of those wise counsels, the suggestion of 
which was the last act of his life. He had every quality of heart 
and intellect for the highest military station. 



43 



CHAPTER XXII. 

Opermtioiit q€ the main anny. — expedition nnder JankowAL — Genenl Cktnr 
nowski havyig driTen Rudiger from his poaition, croasea the Vtatnla, but re- 
toma to act in concert with general JankowakI against the e&asy sear KacL 

^Detaili of general Jankowaki't moTement. — He remaina inactxre witkia 

' aigbt ofthe fire of the corpa with which he waa to co-operate. — Otber eriAn- 
cea of treaaon. — Generals Jankowaki and Bakowaki are arreated and wiiiuwrf 
for trial. — View of the advantages that were sacrificed by this miacowfaet.' 
DiacoTery of a plot to liberate and arm the Roaaian prisoners at Warsaw, aad 
to deliver the city to the enemy. State of the pablic mind indBced by Iheae 

eventa. 

• 

From these melancholy occurrences in Litfauaiua, 
let us turn to follow the operations of tbe graid 
armj. 

On the 13th and 14th of June, a division of m- 
fantrjy under the command of general Muhlberg, 
left Praga, and took the direction of the enviroBS 
of Stanislawow and Jadow. In the latter place 
this division surprised a strong detachment of the 
enemy in camp, and took many prisoners* Thence 
they were instructed to follow the left bank of the 
Liwiec as far as the environs of Kaluszyn, and 
even to Zelechow, clearing each bank of the pres- 
ence of the enemy. This division was then to 
join itself with the division ofr cavalry of general 
Jankowski, which on that day left for Kock. — 
Those two divisions combined, were to endeavor 
to act upon the different corps of the enemy which 
were pressed by the corps of general Chrzanowski. 

.The latter general had commenced the offensive 
on the 16th, and had driven the corps of general 






THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 343 

Rudiger from its position at Krasnystaw, and 
oompelled it to retreat to Lublin, continually pur- 
sued by him. On the 23d, he took that town by 
storm. The enemy was obliged to evacuate it in 
disorder, leaving a great number killed, wounded, 
and prisoners, and to take the direction of Kock. 
The corps of Rudiger would have been inevitably 
destroyed, if another Russian corps of 16,000 
strong had not marched to its aid. 

General Chrzanowski, apprized of the arrival of 
this reinforcement, quitted the pursuit, for a more 
favorable moment ; and, to avoid an engagement 
with this combined force of the enemy, as well as 
to escort the prisoners, which he had taken at 
Lublin, to a place of safety, he repassed the Vis- 
tula, at Pulawa. He had scarce reached the op- 
posite side of the river, when he received the in- 
telligence that the division of general Jankow^i, 
reinforced by a brigade of infantry, was approach- 
ing Kock, where was already the corps of general 
Rudiger, and whither the corps of general Keisa- 
row, above mentioned, was hastening to join him. 
In order, therefore, to take between the two fires 
all the forces which might be collected at Kock* 
general Chrzanowski promptly repassed the river, 
reached the environs of Kock, and waited impa- 
tiently for .the attack of general Jankowski, in the 
opposite direction ; but Jankowski delayed his 
movement, and allowed the corps of Kiesarow to 
join Rudiger. 

The following are the details of this expedition. 



1 



344 THE POLISH REVOLUnOK. 

as thej were related hj an officer of tbe divisM 
of Muhlberg, and which exhibit satisfactory evi- 
dence of treason on the part of general Jankowsfci. 

<< The issue of thb expedition, which could Inrc 
had the most brilliant results, has filled us with 
grief and indignation. We were marchiiig in the 
utmost haste upon Kock, with the hope of beating 
Rttdiger. On our route, at Stoczek, for our mis- 
fortune, we were joined by the division of cavahj 
under general Jankowski, who then took tbe com- 
mand* We ought to have passed the Wicpix, to 
meet Rudiger, and cut him off. Suddenly news 
was brought to us that the enemy had passed tht 
Wieprz, at Lyssobyki, with 6,000 infantry, sixteen 
squadrons of cavalry, and ten pieces of cannon. 
General Jankowski then called a council of war, 
at which the following plans were adopted :-^ 
General Turno was to attack the enemy, in the 
direction of Sorokomla, and general Jankowski 
was to come to his support at the first sound of 
his cannon. The brigade of general Romarino 
(detached from the corps of general Chrzanowski, 
and destined to act as an independent corps) was 
to act upon the left wing, and general Bukowski, 
with a brigade of cavalry, upon the right wiag of 
the enemy by Bialobrzegi. This plan, which in 
the conviction of all our officers, would haveex- 
terminated the corps of general Rudiger, and the 
execution of which was reserved to general Jan- 
kowski, came to nothing. 

<< General Turno, trusting in the faithful execu- 



THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 345 

tioa of the plan, attacked the enemy with courage 
and vigor. He was sure of receiving support on 
three sides. He made head against the enemy for 
six hours, while generals Jankowski and Bukow- 
ski, at the distance of about three miles from him, 
hearing and even seeing the fire of the action, re- 
mained in a state of complete inaction. Nay more, 
a Russian detachment took possession, almost be- 
fore their eyes, of the ammunition and baggage of 
a ^vhole regiment, and they did not stir to prevent 
it. General Tumo fought with bravery and sang- 
froid, notwithstanding that none came to his sup- 
port, and did not retire till he received orders to 
4o so. The whole corps was indignant at the 
eonduct of Jankowski, and his brother-in-law, 
Bukowski, who had evidently acted the part of 
traitors." 

General Skrzynecki was deeply a£9icted with 

the sad result of an expedition, which, based upon 

infallible calculations, had pro&iised the very surest 

success. The event was of the most disastrous 

consequence to us. If the corps o£ general Rudiger 

had been crushed, as it certainly could have been, 

the combined corps of Chrzanowski, Muhlberg, 

and Jankowski, could have acted upon all the corps 

of the enemy, which might be found between the 

Wieprz, the Swider, and the Liwiec. As those 

corps were quite distant from their maia army, 

which was now upon the right of the Narew, and 

as they were even without a free communication 

with each other, they could have each been beaten 



346 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 

in detail, by a prompt action on our part. I leare 
to the reader to decide, whether, after we should 
have obtained such successes over these detached 
corps, we could not have acted with certain suc- 
cess against the Russian main armj. 

The corps of general Rudiger, which thus es- 
caped its fate, left for the environs of Lukoir, 
whither it was followed by general Chrzanowskt 
The corps of general Jankowski returned in the 
direction of Macieowiec and Laskarzew, and the 
division of general Muhlberg returned to Minsk* 
The general in chief deprived generals Jankowski 
and Bukowski of their command, and ordered t]bem 
to be tried by a court-martial. 

But other and even more affecting disasters were 
awaiting us. Poland, which had been so often 
made a sacrifice of, through her own generosi^ 
and confidence, now nourished upon her bosom the 
mon3ters who were plotting her destruction. 

On the 28th of June, general Skrzjnecki re- 
ceived information of a conspiracy which had for 
its object the ^flivering up of Warsaw into the 
hands of the enemy, by liberating and arming the 
Russian prisoners. Several generals, of whom dis- 
trust had been felt, and who had been deprived (rf 
their como^ands when the revolution broke out, 
having been known as the vile instruments of the 
former government, were at the bottom of this plot. 
Of this painful intelligence, general Skrzynecki 
immediately apprized the National Government, 
who, relying on his report, caused to be arrested 



THE POLISH REVOLUTION, 347 

general Hurtig^ former commander of the fortress 
of Zamoscy and a base instrument of Constantine^ 
general Salacki, colonel Slupecki, the Russian 
chamberlain Fenshawe, a Mr. Lessel, and a Rus-« 
sian lady, named Bazanow. Generals Jankowski 
and Bukowski were also implicated in the con^ 
spiracy. This band of traitors intended to get pos-» 
session of the arsenal, to arm the Russian prison- 
ers, and to destroy the bridges ; (in order to cut 
off all communication with the army, which was 
then on the right bank of the Vistula;) and the 
Russian army, advertised of this movement, was 
then to pass to the left bank of the Vistula, at 
Flock or Dobzyn, and take possession of Warsaw. 
Those traitors succeeded in setting at large a 
great number of Russian prisoners at Czeuslochow# 
What a terror must poor Poland have been* to 
the Russian cabinet, which did not find it enough 
to have deluged her with their immense forces, 
and to have engaged all the neighboring cabinets 
to aid them against her, but must go further, and, 
by the employment of such vile niians, attempt to 
kindle hostilities in her interior, and to subject her 
at the same time to a civil and an external war ! 
They had good cause for these desperate attempts* 
From the earliest stage of the conflict, they had seen 
that the Poles, nerved by the consciousness of the 
justice of their cause, were capable of crushing the 
force which they had sent to execute the will of 
the despot. Unable to meet us in the open field, 
they must invent some new method, no matter how 



348 THE POLISH BEVOLUnON. 

base, to accomplbh their end. It was throog-h die 
instnimeotalitj of their intrigues that the dictator- 
ship was prolonged. It was by such intrigues, that 
the apple of discord was thrown into our national 
congress, and even into the ranks of that hand/o/ (d 
brave men who had sworn to sacrifice themselves 
in the cause of their country. They employed 
their vile accomplices to betray us, and they suc- 
ceeded. 

The discovery of this extensive treason struck 
the people with consternation and dismay. It 
drove them to a state bordering on despeiatioil. 
When Poland had sent and was sending her sons, 
and even her daughters, to the field of destth ; — 
when she was sacrificing every thing to achieve her 
deliverance, and was awaiting the fruits of soch 
sacrifices, sure, if not to conquer, at least to /all 
with honor, — she sees that all is in vam — that her 
holy purposes are mocked at, and that all her no- 
ble efforts are thwarted! Can we be surprised, 
then, at the state of the popular mind which ei- 
sued ? 

The state of feeling which these events caused 
was aggravated by the reflection, that the surveil- 
lance of certain individuals, of whom distrust had 
been already entertained, had been more than once 
demanded ; and that from an early period it was 
urged fipon, the government, that the Russian pris- 
oners, particularly those of distinction, should be 
carefully watched, and prevented from holding free 
communication together, or with others. So fiu, 



tHE POLISH REVOLUTION. 349 

howeyer, from such care having been taken, the 
verj Jews were permitted to communicate with 
them constantly, and to bring them intelligence of 
the events of the war. Can it be wondered then, 
that the neglect of these repeated warnings, and 
the tremendous consequences which had well nigh 
followed this neglect, should have weighed upon 
the minds of the people, and have even brought the 
National Government itself into suspicion ? It 
was, in fact, from this moment, that the nation be- 
gan £rst to look with dissatisfaction and distrust 
upon that government, upon prince Czartoriski its 
head, and even upon the general in chief himself. 
The melancholy news of the treason of Jankowski 
filled the minds of the patriots with bitter anticipa- 
tions ; they naturally foreboded, that if such trea- 
sons could be perpetrated in the grand army, under 
the very eyes of the general in chief, the danger 
might be still greater in the more distant corps. 
Their forebodings were but too well justified by 
the events which took place in Lithuania, the in- 
telligence of which was soon received at Warsaw. 



4i 



CHAPTER XXIII. 

Genertl Chlapowski arriTet at Keydonj, having ordered generel Dembiaaki l» 
withdraw to WUlcomierz. — ^The position of the two forces and tbeir lioa of 
operationa. — Examination of these arrangements. — ^Ne^ect of the iiniKirtart 
position of Kowno. — General Chlapowski, at Keydanj, {Mtspoaes to foim i 
provisional government, and obtain a levy of troops. — ^Dispositkuia of Ac 
Lithuanians^ as effected by the mismanagement of our leaders. — Advanli^ 
offered to the enemy by the delay at Keydany. — Brave defence of Kovmi, bf 
the araali force led there. — Skirmish at Willcomierz. — ^The of^Mrtuszt^ «f 
concentrating all the forces at Keydany, and repassing the Siemt&i, h Mg> 
lectecL — ^The enemy presses his pursuit — Battle of RoeseyBy. — ^Attack oa 
Schawls. — Loss of the ammunition and baggage of the corps. — ^The ccups re> 

^ treats in mder to Kurzany , protected by a rear guard of cavalry aad l%kt artO' 
lery. — At Kumny the corps is subdivided into three parts.— DeslxBatioB wad 
strength of each. — Examination of this plan. 

General Chlapowski, whom we shall hereafter 
name as haring the chief command of the Lithu- 
anian force, arrived on the night of the 22d of June 
at Keydany, having sent orders to general Dem- 
binski^to withdraw with bis corps, and to march to 
Willcomierz. (10) [P/an XXXIV.] ThecOTpsof 
general Dembinski arrived, on the 21st, at Szer- 
winty, and on the 22d, at Willcomierz. On quit- 
ting Podbrzeze, general Dembinski left a small 
detachment in the environs of Myszegola, to act as 
partizans. 

The position of our corps was then as follows; — 
The larger force was at Keydany (2). The corps 
of Dembinski was at Willcomierz, and a small 
corps (e) under the command of general Szyma- 
nowski was in the environs of Szawla. Our line 
of operations was on the river Swienta (S) and 
along the ^yia (W), for a short distance below 



THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 361 

the junction of the former river with it. To de- 
fend the passage of those rivers against the enemy ^ 
the following detachments were designated. Kow- 
no (11) was occupied by two battalions of Lithu- 
anian infantry, recently levied, under the command 
of colonel Kikiernicki, and a squadron of the 11th 
regiment of lancers, also Lithuanian, and recently 
formed. 

At Janow (12) was a battalion of infantry and a 
squadron of the 11th lancers, upder the command 
of colonel Piwecki. At Wieprz were three squad- 
rons of the 10th lancers. 

This separation of our forces in Lithuania, and, 
above all, this designation of the most recently or- 
ganized troops for the defence of the passage of 
the two rivers, with a full knowledge of the great 
strength of the enemy, was a gross error. To 
leave the defence of Kowno, a place of so much 
importance, to three battalions of infantry and a 
squadron of cavalry, all of them newly formed 
troops,, and that, too, without ammunition, (for 
they had barely three rounds each,) was a course 
perfectly inexplicable. Besides all this, the river 
Swienta was so shallow as to be fordable by both 
infantry and cavalry, and in some places even by 
artillery. Why then was that river defended ? It 
was owing, in fact, to good fortune that all these 
detachments were not cut off. 

On the arrival of the two corps at Keydany and 
Willcomierz, the organization of a provisional gov- 
ernment for the province, was commenced. Diets 



352 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 

were conroked at these two places, to organize an 
administratioo, and to procure levies of forces. 
Although these arrangements were all proper is 
themselves, yet it was a late hour to undertake 
them, and no place could have been so well adapt- 
ed for them as Wilna. Had the corps of Saken 
been pursued and broken up, Wilna would have 
been ours ; and all such arrangements could hart 
been made there under the most favorable cifeam- 
stances. In that event, the brave liithuanhms 
would have come in from all sides aod crowded 
our ranks, without waiting for any appeal to be 
made to them. But at present, a new crisis had 
arrived. We had fought the battle of WUna with 
a disastrous result. The enemy had become ac- 
quainted with the inferiority of our forces, and bad 
begun to understand the errors of our commander, 
and was prepared to take advantage of them. In 
fine, the Lithuanians themselves, witnessing all 
this gross mismanagement, became disgusted, and 
after having once so cheerfully tendered their co- 
operation, began, at length, to discover that they 
were sacrificing themselves in vain, and thaf the 
fate of the inhabitants of Wilna would await them. 
This people, as we have already stated, bad com- 
menced their insurrection two months before they 
had hopes of any assistance from our forces, and 
badly armed as they were, they had maintained a 
partizan warfare during this period with uniform 
success. We can, therefore, have no reason to re- 
proach them^ if after the' misconduct which was 



THE POLISH REVOLUTION* 353 

exhibited before their eyes, they began to be re- 
luctant to join their forces to our own, and chose 
to reserve the sacrifice of their exertions -and their 
lives for some other occasion, when there might 
be some hope of useful results. 

The six or seven days which we passed thus at 

Keydany and Willcomierz, seemed as if designed 

to invite the enemy to pursue his advantages, and 

to lead him to the idea of surrounding our forces. 

The enemy, fortunately for us, did not improve the 

opportunity which we presented him, but remained 

inactive. This inactivity, whether it arose from 

the imbecility of his commanders, or whatever 

other cause, afforded us an opportunity off changing 

our plans, and of extricating ourselves from the 

dangerous position in which we were placed. But 

instead of this, we awaited his attack. On the 

29th, the enemy commenced an attack upon every 

point, at Willcomierz, Wieprz, Janow, and Kow- 

no, with his whole force. 

A corps of 4,000 Russians, with 16 cannon, 
commenced the attack on Kowno, defended, as we 
have said, by 2,000 new troops. From .morning 
until night, the defence was sustained with great 
courage. The contest was for the first half of the 
day in the town itself, and the rest of the day was 
spent in disputing the passage of the bridge over 
the Wilyia. The Russians occupying all the houses 
upon the banks of the river, and the neighboring 
heights, commenced a terrible fire of artillery and 
musquetry upon the bridge, which* wa9 defended 



354 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 

by a bodj of infantry almost without ammnQitioo. 
At night-fall, colonel Kikiernicki, seeing that tfae 
Russian cavalry had found means of fording the 
river, ordered a retreat, but remained, himself, at 
the head of a single company, defending the bridge, 
until he learnt that the rest of the corps had pas%d 
the town of Sloboda, and had gained the heights 
which are behind the town. Upon that bridge, 
fell the captain of this company, Zabiello, a Lith- 
uanian. He was shot in the act of cutting away 
the bridge with his own hands, 'fbis campstny, 
after having thus sustained their post at the bndge 
with the greatest bravery, commenced their retreat 
The Russian cavalry, having succeeded in fording 
the river, had already commenced acting in their 
rear. At the same time, the Russian columns of 
infantry were debouching upon the bridge. Colo- 
nel Kikiernicki, perceiving his situation, animated 
his little corps to make the desperate effort of 
breaking through the Russian cavalry, and of 
gaining Sloboda. His spirit was seconded by his 
brave followers, and this company of one hundred 
men, raising the hurrah, forced a passage Xhtfmgh 
the enemy's cavalry, gained Sloboda, and, under 
cover of night, succeeded in joining their com- 
rades.* In this effort, colonel Kikiernicki fell 
wounded, and was made prisoner by the enemy. 

The detachment, having lost one half of their 
numbers in the sanguinary attack to which the 

* With thifl company was the countesa Plater, and her aid-de- 
camp M'lle Rasyiiowiecz. 



TH£ POLISH REVOLUTION. 355 

mismanagement of our general had exposed them, 
took the road to Janow. In this manner ended 
the attack on Kowno, and the Russians took pos- 
session, of that important post, which might be 
regarded as the key to all our communications 
with Poland. 

There can be no excuse for not having fortified 
Kowno. It is a town, containing ten or twelve 
thousand inhabitants, of which one half, perhaps, 
were Jews, but they could have been employed in 
the construction of the works. It was also most 
favorably situated for defence, being surrounded 
by heights on every side. 

On the same day, sanguinary skirmishes took 
place at Janow, Wieprz, and Willcomierz. The 
two first towns were abandoned. In the attack on 
Willcomierz, which was successfully repelled, an 
action took place, in which the lancers of Poznam 
and Plock threw themselves upon the flank of Rus- 
sian cavalry, and, after causing severe loss, took 
about eighty prisoners, consisting of Circassians. 
General Dembinski, on the night of the 29th, 
learning that our positions of Janow and Wieprz 
were abandoned, quitted Willcomierz on the next 
day, and took the road to Schavla. IPlan XXXIV. 
(13)]. Although the occupation by the enemy, 
of the town of Kowno, and the interruption of our 
whole Hue of operations on the Swienta and Wil- 
yia, made our situation very perilous ; yet it was 
still possible to avoid the disasters which followed, 



366 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 

and to effect a return to Poland. By concentrat- 
ing all our forces at Keydany, we could have 
effected a passage of the Niemen, in the same 
manner as we had already done in the direction of 
Gielgudiskiy which would have left the enemy Ih 
our rear ; while on the other side of the Niemen, 
the enemy were not in force enough to prevent 
our passage. But, instead of doing this, as if t^ 
insure our ruin, a small detachment, consisting of 
four squadrons of cavalry, and the sappers, under 
the command of colonel Koss, wefe.sent to make 
a bridge over the Niemen ! Ttiis measure is per- 
fectly inexplicable. Scarcely had this detachment 
arrived at the river, and commenced the erection 
of the bridge, when they were attacked on tw© 
sides, by the cuirassiers and the artillery of the 
enemy. They were saved only by the judicious 
conduct of colonel Koss, who threw himself into 
the protection of the neighboring forest, and sue* 
ceeded in rejoining the corps. The loss which we 
incurred by this expedition, of all our implements 
fpr the construction of bridges, was irreparable. 

From this time, the enemy did not for a moment 
lose sight of us ; and throwing bi3 superior forces 
upon the great road which leads from Kejdany, 
through Rosseyny (14), to Schavla, forced us to 
take that direction which was the most dangerous 
for us, as the field of operation for our forces was 
contmually becoming more and more contracted* 



THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 357 

COMBAT OF BOSSEYNY. 

The cause of this action, which it would have 
been fnost desirable to have avoided, was a strong 
attack by the enemy upon the rear-guard of gen- 
eral Chlapowski which was marching on the road 
\o Schavla. To avoid exposing the rear-guard to 
a great loss^ or even to the chance #f it, the com- 
mand was givgfi, to take position, aad the corps 
\?{as placed in order of battle. - T|)e battle of Ros- 
seyny, which'^sted scarcely four houfs, was very 
sanguinary, aod highly^ hqpor^le to the Polish 
arms. The object of the ene^fiy on this occasion 
, was to surrouod our lef^ wing.^ Aavoon as he per- 
eeived that our corps had taken position and^wst^ 
arranged in ordefi of battle, the enemy brought for- 
ward his artillerjv^coasisting of 24 pieces of can- 
. non, and commenced a heavy fire upon our centre. 
This, fire did not cause a great loss, for, our posi- 
tion being elevated, the shot struck too low to be 
effecflve. A few im^ments after this fire of artil- 
lery was commenced, a strong column of Russian 
cavalry showed ituelf on our right wing. This 
column had with it a body pf light artillery, which 
commenced fire also. On our left wing, which 
was supported upon a UHirsh, and, for that reason, 
in Iktle expectation of an attack, but a small force 
was collected. This wing was composed of a bat- 
talion of infantry and the 1st regiment of lancers. 
These trocrps hqd been placed on this wing to re- 
pose from the combats and fatigues of the day and 

45 



358 THE POLISH mSTOLUnOK. 

night preceding, in which they had acted as rear- 
guard. The brave lancers, however, at .the £rsi 
sight of the enemy, demanded of the geimal to lie 
permitted to make a charge. This pennissiaB 
being given, at the firi&t discharge of the Ratnaa 
artillery, our soldiers threw themselves with im* 
petuosity upon both the cavalry and the artilleij of 
the enemy. The capture of sixty prisoners asd 
the spiking of three cannon were ike fruits of this 
brilliant attack. It was the last charge of that 
brave regiment. '# 

' Our centre was not |esg fortunAe tfian. ow left 
wing. Our artitlefjr being better placed than that 
of the en^mj^, several of his pieces were dHsoMWit- 
ed, and his fire began to slacken. For some hom 
a light fire of tirailleurs was ciltimied im both 
sides, when our generals, seein§ that the enemy 
did not renew the attack, gave orders to evacuee 
tha position, and to resmne the march ^or 8chav1a. 
On the same night, the corps ariived at Cyto- 
wiany.' There our forces were joined by the ^oqs 
of general Rohland, which had had a bloody skw* 
mish at Beysag^la, [Plmn XXXIV: (16)] oo the 
same day, on whicTi ' general Dambinski was also 
attacked at Poniewieze. The corps of general 
Chlapowski left the ne:^ day for the attack of 
Schavla, which was occupied by a Russian garri- 
son. The corps of general Dembinski^ which as 
we have already stated, was marching by another 
route upon Schavla, arrived there^ at mid-day on 
the 7th. That general, considering the smallness 



THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 359 

of the Russian garrison in this town, consisting 
Qoly of four battalions of infantry, and six pieces 
of cannon, after waiting a short time for the arri- 
ral of the oorps of general Chlapowski, concluded 
to send a summons, by colonel Miroszewski, to 
the Rtissidn commandant, proposing to him to 
surrender, and save a useless effusion of blood. 
The Rtiasian colonel Kurow would not accept of 
these friendly propositions, and competed general 
Deonbinski to order an attack ; a very moderate 
one, howeveTf as he was in hopae that the arrival 
of our^superior forces wdbld soon convince the 
RasfAan eommander that a tefence would, be use- 
less. In fact, tl)^ cQipSof gpieral Cblapowski 
arrived -at about 5, P. M.^^t a villnge dbout four 
miJe»;from Schavla, where he was met by an offi- 
cer, sent by general IXeMbinski,'<with a report of the 
circumstances which had takea j^lace. Indeed, the 
sound of the cannon and_ muequetry, ought already 
to have satisfied general ChkvfMDwski that general 
DembiBski \^as engaged in th» attack ; but iustead 
of hastening to his assistant he went into camp, 
and tlius remained until two hours past midnight. 
At two o'clock then, of the morning of the 8th, 
the corps took up the march, and arrived by day 
break before Schavla* 



ATTACK ON SCHAVLA. 



On examining the plan of this battle, and con- 
sidering the smallness of the Russian garrison in 



360 TH£ POLISH RETOLUTION. 

Sohavla, we cannot but be satisfied that the tows 
ought to have been taken at the first assauilt, aad 
it will seem almost incredible that afti^ having 
occupied four hours in an unsuccessfirf attack, w« 
should have at last quitted our position. 

On arriving on the plain before Scbti^pfa, the twa 
corps were placed in ordef of biittle. The foite 
of general penlbiiBki changed Its poaitfim, and 
formed eui:, 1^ wing. We •4at)mmenced...a fire of 
artilleij- from. tfae right wing and. the centre, at the 
same tifiie tbrowieg forward our skirmisheis. The 
eaeuff had made an endenchment rouol tiiewhcde 
town, fa^hiBd wluch 4iis in^wtry was conc^Aod ; 
and upon U^e right of t^ town J|e h^ constnu^ed 
a redoubtv Q* the mUte of the towA ^aipsi whkh 
the right wing and centre work postea, a ^HMttH 
fire ^pf mosque try %n4 mrlil^ry }vas coiDiqy^eedt 
under the cover of \yhich,our light froops endear^ 
ered to take possession (tt the r^parts. 

Generaf Szyman##sfll'and cobMel Fieatka, whs 
were the only geneaal ofiicCTs who ^erm acti^dj 
engaged in this battj§i seeing that (his attack of 
the light treops upon the Russian infantry tbes 
safely entrenched, was very destnictive to as, aod 
would prolong the attack, ordered two battalions 
of infantry, under colonel Jeroma and Piwecki, to 
make an assault, protected by two pieces of canncm 
and a squadron of the 3d regiment of lancers. 
This order was executed with the greatest deter* 
mination. Our artillery, having fired - two roends 
of grape, the two battalions of infantry entered the 
city at the charge, and regardless of the terrible fire 



THE POLISH REVOLUTIOIf. 361 

fiom the windows of the houses, they reached the 

■Hirket-plaoe of the towB.* The enemy was in 

^CMisteraation, and the taking of an hundred pris- 

tmers bj us, showed the disorder into which be 

]Md alres^dy fallen. If but two other battalions 

had been sent^to support those which had entered 

the town, th^ attack would have ended here. But 

this was neglected^ and the latter were remaining 

in theiv dangerous situation, while the rest of our 

idtcea were oselessly engaged, and received no or- 

ders. The bold idea of the brave coloaei Pientka, 

of forcing, the attack, was no where seconded. 

The coi*ps of general Dembinski remained wholly 

ioactiYe) although officers were occasionally sent 

by him to general Chlapowski for orders^ By this 

fault tha battaliona wlk> had entered the city weve 

esKpoaedt to the supenor forces of the enemy, whos 

fiilliiig upon, them from all sides, forced them to 

jquit the city, leaving among their dead the brave 

colonels Jeroma and Piweeki, and nearly one half 

of their whole number.f WiUi the retreat of these 

brave battalions, all our forces commenced evacu*- 

fiing their position, — we cannot tell for what rea*' 

0on. The enemy did not attaak us ; on the con- 

trary, he was well satisfied with the cessation of 

hostilities oa our part. At 9 o'clock our corps re^ 

commenced its march. 

■ 

* The Jewish inhabitants of the city even fired upon our soldiers. 
Many of them wece taken with pistols in their hands, and: aftef^ 
warda executed, 

t In this affair we ought to make particular mention of the esti-* 
mable Laga, a priest, who was at the head of the squadron in this 
affinr, having the cross in one hand and the sabre in Ae other. 



362 THE POLISH USVOLDTION. 

These are the details of the battle, or ratiier the 
attack, of Schavia, which town we quitted, aftet 
inrestiiig it for nearly five hours, and after havuig 
sastained a^severe loss in men and offi^rs,— a sac- 
rifice which was owing to our most defective aad 
Hi-judged arrangements. 

On this same day, we were again UHfortmate, 
in the loss of all our baggage and several wagou 
of ammunition, which were sent forwajrd bj a load 
on our right, and fell into the hands of the Jigte 
Circassian cavalry of the enemy. 

This battle discovered an extreme of jiegligence 
in our commander in chief. With the * knowledge 
that the enemy was pursuing us in the rear, aad 
on each side, we remained uselessly j^ncamped 
during the night of the 7th, which we ought to 
have employed in the attack. The true course 
should have been to have set fire to the place, 
which would have required only the agency of a 
few bold men. This town, indeed, deserved m 
better fate; for it was inhabited almost exclusively 
by hostile Jews. When the general welfare is at 
risk, there should be no hesitation in sacrificii^ 
the convenience of individuals. If we compare 
the consequences of having burnt this town; and of 
having attacked it, we shall see that, by the for- 
mer course, we should have compelled the Jews 
to fly with thqir effects, and the Russian garrison 
to surrender, without any effusion of blood, while, 
by attacking it, we lost nearly one thousand men, 
without any advantage whatever. 



THfi POLISH REVOLUTION. 363 

In regard to the attack, the surrounding of the 
town was a great fault ; for neither the fire of the 
artillerj nor of the light troops could be effective, 
as the Russian artillerj was in a dominant posi- 
tion, and was concealed within the city, as their 
infantrj was behind their entrenchments. The 
skirmishers, in approaching the city, fell, without 
having harmed the enemy. The plan of colonel 
Pientka, of jnasking the attack on one side, and 
forcing the attack upon the other, at a single point, 
was well conceived, but failed, as we have seen, 
hy the want of support. 

At abont ten o'clock the flanking parties of the 
Russian cavalry began to show themselves on each 
side of .us, upon the road to Willcomierz, and on 
that of Cytowiany. Our corps was already on the 
ngpveb for Kurszany. The 1 st regiment of lancers 
and the light artillery were designated as a rear- 
guard. This rear-guard, taking advantage of a 
small defile, which presented a favorable position, 
took post there, and sustained themselves for some 
hours against an attack from the Russian advanced 
guard ; thus protecting the march of our main body, 
which was executed with the greatest order. The 
lancers and light artillery then evacuated their 
position, by a retreat at full speed, which, by tak- 
ing advantage of the windings of the road, and the 
vicinity of the forests, they were able to effect with 
inconsiderable loss. On the evening of the same 
day we arrived at Kurszany. On the next day 
we remained some hours in that place, to hold a 



364 THE POLISH HEVOIiUTIOK. 

oooticil of war. General Chlapowski pf^OMd to 
divide our forces ioto three corps, each to act iode^ 
pendeiitly. This arrangement was cairiftd wto 
effect, and our forces were thus distribiRed. 

The 1st corps, under general Chlapowdd, wkb 
which general Gielgud remained, consisted of fife 
battalions of infantry, amounting to 1,500 mcB) 
lour squadrons of the 1st regiment of lancers^ ani 
two squadrons of Kaliszian cavalry; in all, 450 
horse, and an artillery consbting of 13 pieces of 
cannon. 

This corps received the destination, t^nai^ 
for Rosseyny, leaving the enemy on the nght, and 
from thence directly for Kowno, and, by tfiis «h 
suspected march, to surprise the last importiiU 
position. By that means, the comnranicatioQ h^ 
tween us and Poland would be re-opened ^ and |p 
protect this communication was to be the principal 
employment of that corps. 

The 2d corps, under the command of generals 
Rohland and Szymanowski. was composed of eight 
battalions of infantry, amounting to about 3,000 
men ; all the cavalry which was recently formed 
in Lithoania, consisting of nearly 1,0U0 horse ; 
and an artillery, commanded by the brave edonel 
Pientka, consisting of 12 pieces of cannon. 

This corps was directed to march upon Polonga, 
a port on the Baltic. It had been rumored that 
two French vessels with arms, funds, and ammuni- 
tion, together with a small body of volunteers, 
were cruising near that port. After they should 



TH£ P0U8H REV0LUTI0I9. 365 

bave received these expected supplies, the corps 
was directed to inarch towards the Dwina, and, 
by following along the banks of that river, to ob- 
serve and interrupt the communications between 
the forces of the enemy in Lithuania, and the pro- 
vince of Courland. 

The 9d corps, under general Dembinski, was 
.composed of three battalions of infantry of the 
> 1 8th regimeM, recently ^formed, consisting of about 
1,(X)0 men ; two squadrons of the lancers of Poz- 
nam, two squadrons of the lancers of Plock, and 
one squadron of the 3d regiment of Hulans, in all, 
about 500 cavalry ; and seven pieces of artillery. 
This corps received orders to march for the envi- 
rons of Schavla, traversing the forests, and leaving 
I the enemy on the right ; from thence to take a 
diilction to Willcomierz, and thence to the envi- 
rons of Wilna, and to attack that city, if circum- 
stances might allow of it ; and then to manoeuvre 
in the department of Minsk, and in the forests of 
Bialostok, acting there in support of the insurrec- 
tion, and collecting the forces of the insurgents. 
An important object of this corps was to support a 
communication with the corps of general Chlapow- 
ski. This plan, the reader will observe, was, in 
many of its points, the same with that suggested 
by colonel Valentin. 

A proper reflection upon all th%se arrangements 
would convince any one that much more loss than 
advantage Was to be anticipated from them. This 
subdivision of the force was, in fact, a visionary 

46 



366 TU£ POLISH RRVOLUTION. 

scheme. Many officers openly declared their opiih 
ions to this effect, and urged that in oui critical 
situation, almost surrounded as we were by a hos- 
tile force, so superior to our owii| we ought not to 
form any new projects, but, profiting by the coo- 
centration of our forces, to redouble the rapdity 
of our march, and, taking advantage of the foresn 
and covered roads, to reach Poland as soqa as pos-, 
sible. This would, indeed, be atteaied with diffi- 
culties ; but it would still be much easier of exe- 
cution, and much more proper to be attfimpteAj 
than the plan which we have detailed. Suck Views, 
however, were not regarded. The project was 
highly colored, and the most brilliant successes 
were promised to follow it. The separatkm of 
the corps was accordingly ordered, and oar fate 
was sealed. 



CHAPTER XXIV. 

r 

jQ^e three subdiTiaioni o^^e Lithuanian corps take their retpectiTe deatina- 
tionfl. — ^Detaiia of the operations of that of general Rohland. — He meeta alone 
the attack of the whole Raasian force.— Battle of Powendany and Woma. — 

' General Rohlaad, on his way to Polonga, learns that general Chlapowski had 
fluurched towards the Pmssian frontier^ — He presses his march to overtake 
and form a junction with him. — ^The greater part of the corps of Gielgud and 
Chlapowihi were found to have passed the frontier, when that of Rohland 
•came in sight. — Indignation of the soldiery. — Death of general Gielgud. — 
General RohlanJt^ joined by a portion of the corps of Gielgud which had not 
yet pessed the frontier, oontinues his march to Nowe-Miasto. — He declines 
a proposition from general Kreutz, to surrender. — Suceessful skirmish with 
the enett^'s cavalry. — General Rohland takes a position at Nowe-Miasto, and 
awaits the enemy.— The Russian forces, however, do not continue their pur- 
suit, but go into camp. — ^Propositions to pass the frontier are sent to general 
Rohland by the Prussian authorities. — ^They are submitted to the corps, and 
aotepted. 

On the 9th of July, at about 10, A. M., each of the 
three subdinsions of the corps took the road desig- 
nsfted for it. From this moment, commences a 
new epoch in our operations in Lithuania^ and we 
shall give a separate detail of the proceedings of 
each of these corps, commencing with that of gen- 
eral Rohland, which was in the line of the enemj's 
pursuit, and was followed by his whole force. 
This corps, quitting Kurszany, took the road for 
Telze. On the night of the 10th, it arrived at 
Fowenduny and the lake of Worna. Upon the 
road, it was joined by colonel Koss, who had been 
sent, as we haV^e said, with his detachment, from 
Keydany, to construct a bridge over the Niemen, 
and who had extricated himself from the exposed 
situation in which this attempt had placed him. 
As the position was advantageous, and as our sol- 



368 THE POLISH REYOLUTION. 

diers had need of repose after their fatiguing mawdkf 
we remained there the whole night. On the next 
daj, at sunrise, our camp was alarmed by the ap- 
proach of the Circassian cavalr^r of the enemj. 
Our generals decided to wait the enemj's attack 
in their eligible position, and that day was one of 
most brilliant success. We will present to ibe 
reader full details of the events of that day, /or 
they were of an extremely interestiog character. 
The manoeuvres of all our forces were admirable ; 
but those of the cavalry were indeed extrao^inarj. 
The reader will be astonished to find how much 
was done by a cavalry, fatigued, their accoutre- 
ments in disorder, and almost without ammunitK>n, 
against a cavalry like that of the enemy, weD 
mounted, with fresh horses, and in every respect 
in perfect order. 



COMBAT OF POWENDUNY AND WORNA, 

The battle commenced at sunrise, as we have 
already mentioned, with an attack from two sqoad^ 
rons of Circassian cavalry. Those squadrons turn- 
ed our outer guard, and came in contact witb oor 
tirailleurs, who received them with a warm and 
unexpected fire. These tirailleunfwere concealed 
in the forest and brpshwood. The Circassians 
halted, and commenced a fire of carbines in return* 
Our fire could not but be amended with great loss 
to the enemy, and they were forced to retire. In 



THE POLISH RBTOLDTION. 369 

. thu retreat, our own cavalry, which was at Pow- 
enduny, and which had debouched by a covered 
road, and taken position, entirely surrounded these 
tmo squadrons, and, attacking them on all sides, 
causing A severe loss and taking forty prisoners. 
An hoar after, the Russians renewed the attack. 
Strong columns of infantry and cavalry passed 
throiigb a little village which is on the road from 
Kurs»any to Powenduny. The Russian artillery 

, took positions upon the declivity of the heights 
adjoining that village, and commenced a fire upon 
our cavalry. At the same time, several columns of 
the Russian infantry threw themselves into the 
brushwood on the right of our position, while a 
strong detachment, composed of infantry, artillery, 
and cavalry, was pushed forward upon our right 
wiDg, with the design to turn our flank, and, by 
surrounding us, to cut off our communications with 
Worna. This detachment, after losing several 
hours in attempting to act upon us, under the ob- 
stacles which were presented by the marshy nature 
of the ground, returned without having effected - 
any thing. Our generals, seeing the superior force 
of the enemy, ordered our cavalry to retire, and 
to place themselves in the rear of our artillery, 
which occupied heights commanding the whole 
Ticinity, and arrested by an incessant fire, for more 
than four hours, the advance of the enemy. After 
our cavalry had retired, the tirailleurs began 
evacuate the wood, and concentrating themselv 
upon the road to Powenduny, retired also, aft 



370 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 

having destroyed the bridge which crosses a small . 
marshy stream, intersecting the roady and burnt a 
faubourg which adjoins Powenduny, and was near 
this bridge. Such was the state of things whed| 
at about ten o'clock, a flag was announced from 
the Russian commander. It was brought by an 
aid-de-camp of general Delinghausen. Th^propft- 
sition borne by this flag was, that we shoul^ sof* 
render, on the ground that we were engageiTwith 
the whole of the Russian force, amounting to nearly 
20,000 men, and that that force had alread|r iicctf- 
pied the road to Worna, the only compiumcation 
which remained to us. This proposition was fed- 
lowed by the usual considerations, — ^the ^nsh to 
prevent the needless efiiision of blood, &c. It was 
declined, and the aid-de-camp returned to the Rus- 
sian head-quarters, but in a short time appeared 
again with a renewal of the proposition. General 
Szymanowski, who received the aid-de-camp, per- 
sisted in his refusal, adding, that '^ he knew the 
duties of a soldier— duties which were doubly ob- 
ligatory upon one who is fighting in the cause of 
liberty, and in the defence of the country of bis 
ancestors." After the departure of the aid-de- 
camp, the order was given to the artillery and in- 
fantry to re-commence their fire. At the same 
time, arrangements were made for dfc continuation 
of our march to Worna. At about mid-day, oar 
columns of infantry, and a part of the cavalry and 
artillery, quitted their posillvQ, and took up the 
march for Worna. After a short time, there re- 



THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 371 

- mained but one battalion of infantry, and three 
squadrons of cavalry. The cavalry was employed 
^ to mask the withdrawing of the remaining artil- 
lery* After our corps h«d, by a march, arranged 
in tl^e manner we have described, reached a point 
«. sufficientlfT distant from our first position, the bat- 
talion of light infantry which remained in that po- 

* wtion was ordered to withdraw as far as certain 
mills, keeping up a retreating fire. After passing 

* thpse ftiills, the tirailleurs received orders to run at 
* fuU gp^d to rejoin the corps, and to occupy the 

^adjoining forests, whife the cavalry were ordered to 

* take post at the mills, to cover this movement, and 
sffterwards to retire slowly, pass a small village 
which was on the road, and on the opposite side of 
that village to await the approach of the enemy. 
This manoeuvre was well executed by both the 
infantry and cavalry, the latter placing themselves 
on rather an open space behind the village, to 
await the -enemy. After some time, six squadrons 
of the light Russian cavalry, consisting of hussars 
and Circassians, passed through the village, and 
seeing the small number of our cavalry, gave the 
hurrah, and threw themselves upon them. Our 
cavalry,, expecting this attack, received orders to 
quit their position with promptness, in order to 
lead the Rusainn cavalry upon the fire of our infan- 
try, who were concealed in the woods. The Rus- 
sian cavalry, presuming that this was a disorderly 
retreat, followed w|^ impetuosity, while our cav- 
alry threw themselves on one side, to pass a ford 



372 TH£ POLISH RfiVOLUTION. 

which had been designated for that ohjeatf and 
thus left the enemj exposed in a mass, to the fif% 
of oar tirailleurs. This manoeuvre cost H^ B.us- 
sians two hundred men, by the acknowledgement 
of officers who were made prisoners. After h^nng* 
caused this severe loss to the enemy, oupr in£uitry» 
and cavalry retired slowly, to occupy their third 
position, and the enemy did not follow. . .^ 

A short time after we quitted our second posi- 
tion, the Russian cavalry showed themselvtoag^. ^ 
General Szymauowski remained, with twg t^apa^ • 
nies of the 7th regiment of the line, to defeivi the 
passage of the third village against the enemy, and ' 
to give time to our cavalry to take a third positidh. 
This general, for nearly an hour, resisted the at- 
tack of a strong force of cavalry, but commenced 
evacuating the position on the approach of con- 
siderable bodies of the Russian infantry, withdraw- 
ing through the forests. The Russian cavalry, 
seeing that the village was abandoned -by our in- 
fantry, began to debouch through it. It was an 
act of the greatest imprudence in the Russian cav- 
alry, unsupported by either infantry or artillery, to 
advance thtKs upon a plain surrounded by forests^ 
in which they might have supposed infutry, and 
even cavalry, to be concealed. Two squadrons of 
our cavalry commenced a fire in older to harass 
them, and draw them on to the middle of the plain. 
Afterwards, those two squadrons wheeling about, 
laid open the Russian cavalj^ to the fire of our 
artillery, which was posted on a little elevation and 



THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 373 

concealed bj brushwood. This fire of our artille- 
ry was effective* The enemjr's cavalry began to 
waver. General Szjmanowski observing this^ or- 
dered an immediate attack by our whole cavalry, 
consisting of twelve squadrons. This attack was 
made with great impetuosity* Sixteen hussars, 
with two officers, were taken prisoners, and forty 
or fifty were left, killed or wounded, on the field. 
After this, the corps recommenced its march to 
Worna, leaving two battalions of the 7th regiment 
of infantry, as a rear^guard, in the forests which 
border on that road. 

The successes which we had thus obtained in 
our three first positions were over the advanced 
guard of the enemy ; but in the fourth position, 
arranged by the brave and skilful colonel Koss, and 
in which our successes were even greater, we had 
to encounter the whole body of the Russian forces 
in Lithuania, which, according to some of our pri- 
soners, were to be estimated at 18,000, and by 
others at 25,000 men, with 36 pieces of artillery, 
under the command of the several Russian generals, 
Kreutz, Tolstoy, Szyrman, Delinghausen, and Sa- 
ken. The town of Worna is surrounded by two 
large lakes, in such a manner that the only com- 
munication with that town to the west, is by a 
neck of land, separating th^ extremities of those 
two lakes. The to^fvn h situated upon an elevated 
ground, which overlooks the whole vicinity. On 
our left wing was a forest, that reached one of the 
lakes. This forest was occupied by two battalions 

47 



374 THE POLISH RCTOLOTIOK. 

of infiuitrj. Our right wiog leaned upon the odier 
lake. All our artillery remained in the centre, aad 
occupied the heights near Worna. 

When our arrangements were completed, we 
beard the fire of the two battalions composiog om 
rear-guard, who were engaged, while w^ithdrawiag, 
with the Russian infantry. Strong columns of the 
enemy's infantry, which were following these h^- 
talions, began to debouch from . the forest, and to 
deploy upon the plains before Worna. Those od- 
umns were followed by the enemy's artillery, 13 
pieces of which took post on the side of the road, 
and immediately opened a fire upon our centre. 
At the same time, a warm fire of skirmishers was 
commenced on each side. Our artillery, wVdch 
was very advantageously placed, without replyii^ 
to that of the enemy, opened a fire upon the col- 
umns of the enemy's infantry. Before night, the 
whole Russian forces had deployed upcm the plain, 
and a powerful attack on their side was expected ; 
but instead of this we were astonished to find that 
their fire began to slacken, perhaps owing to a 
heavy rain, which bad just began to fall. Our 
commander^ with the view to profit by this rain 
and the approach of darkness, after an interval of 
not more than ten minutes, ordered theltovo bat- 
talions which remained in the forests on our left, to 
make a sudden charge with the bayonet upon the 
right wing of the enemy. - These battalions, under 
the command of the brave colonel Michalowski, 
performed prodigies of valor in this charge, and 



THE POLISH REVOLUTION^ 375 

bore down all before them. Colonel Koss at the 
same time taking the command of the caratrj, and 
addressing a few exciting words to them, led them 
upon the centre of the enemy at the charge. The 
consternation of the Russians was extreme. A 
great part of their cavahrj was found dismounted^ 
for they had not the least expectation of an attack ; 
their artillery fled, and abandoned their cannon; 
the utmost disorder followed, and a vast number of 
the enemy fell upon the field. According to the 
testimony of prisoners, the consternation was at 
duch a height that we might have pat their whole 
corps to rout. Our forces, however, could not fol- 
low up these advantages ; for the obscurity of the 
night and our own weakness made it impossible. 
We were content with having reduced the strength. 
of the enemy by the great losses we had occasion- 
ed ; and we continued our route towards the sea^ 
port of Polonga^ agreeably to our orders^ where 
we were looking for reinforcements, and where 
our generals believed that the corps of general 
Chlapowski would join, and act with us upon some 
new plan. On the morning of the 12th we arrived 
at Retow, 

The battle of Powendony and Woma, in which 
we had btaten the Russians in four positions, and 
which cost the enemy more than a thousand men, 
including prisoners and wounded, renewed our 
hopes. We were expecting, as we have said, new 
accessions of strength at Polonga ; and we were 
not without hope that our other corps under Dem- 



S76 THK rOUSH BKTOI.UXION« 

binski and Chlapowski, who ccmld not haiTe been 
fiar distant, findiog that we bad been tfam eag^ed 
and so saccessfully, with the whole force of the 
enemy, wonld change their plan of operaticMis, and 
attack him in lus rear or his flank. To thjs end, 
in fact, on the very morning of that battle, after 
oar first successes, we sent two oflfeers in the <fi- 
rection of Dembinski and Chlapowski, to apprin 
them of the circumstances in which we were plac- 
ed, and especially to inform them of the important 
fact that the whole force of the enemy were before 
us« With these hopes awakened in our minds^ oor 
disappointment may be imagined on learning, at 
Retow, that the corps of general Chlapowski had 
passed throngh that place on the day befi^e, in a 
rapid march towards the Prussian frontier. During 
the battle of Powenduny, therefore, the corps of 
general Chlapowski was at the distance of only 
four miles from us. He heard our fire during ^ 
whole day, but instead of marching to our support, 
which, as we afterwards learnt, his officers and 
even his soldiers loudly called upon him to do, he 
declined doing it, answering their appeals in the 
following terms : — " What do you ask of me, gen- 
tlemen ? I can assure you that the corps of gener- 
al Rohland, on whom the whole force dP the ene- 
my has fallen, is destroyed. The baggage of his 

officers has passed through Retow.* All is lost, 

■ — ■ ' ' ' ■ ■ ■ III 

• It might have been the case^ that a few wagons with some of 
the baggage of the corps, were sent (p advance in the direction of 
Polonga, merely as a precautionary arrangement. 



THS POLISH REVOLUTION. 377 

and, surrounded as we are on all sides by the ene- 
mjy it only remains for us to seek at once the fron- 
tiers of Prussia, and to throw ourselves upon the 
protection of that power." 

Generals Rohland and Ssymanowski, on receiv* 
ing the unwelcome intelligence of the course which 
general Chlapowski had adopted, concluded to 
change their plan of operations, and instead of go- 
ing to Polonga, to follow the march of general 
Chlapowski, to endeavor to join him as soon as 
possible, and by exhibiting to him the unimpaired 
strength of our corps, which he had believed to be 
annihilated, to induce him to abandon the project 
of crossing the Prussian frontier, and to make some 
further attempts in junction with us. 

With this view, after resting a few hours at 
Retow, we left, by a forced march, for Gorzdy, a 
small town near the Prussian frontier, at which we 
hoped to overtake the corps of general Chlapowski, 
and at which we arrived on the next day (13th,) at 
noon* But it was already too late« The greater 
part of the corps of Chlapowski and Gielgud had 
passed the frontier at the village of Czarna, about 
a half league from the former place, and an incon- 
siderable part only of the corps, which had not yet 
passed ovw, could unite with us. The other part 
were already advanced a. considerable distance 
within the Prussian territory, and having been dis- 
armed, were placed under a guard of Prussian sen- 
tinels. 

Such was the end of the corps of generals Chla- 



376 THG POLISH RETOLUTION. 

powski and Gielgud, composed of our best troops, 
and which had performed sUch feats of valor ia 
so manj battles. Those brave soldiers were led, 
against their will, into the territory of a foreigi 
nation, to seek a protection of which thej them- 
^ selves had not even dreamed. 

This step, which every historian of our revobn 
tion will record with horror, when it was 9eiM bovr 
totally without justification it was, awakened the 
disgust and indignation of all. The part of the 
corps of general Chlapowski which was ajreadj n 
the Prussian territory, when they saw the corps of 
general Rohland, which they had been made to 
believe was destroyed, continuing its tnarch io an 
entire state, and even with nearly 200 Rwsfaui 
prisoners in its train, and hearing too the aoimatiBg 
shouts which naturally burst from their comrades, 
as they came in view of them, and who called oa 
them to rejoin them, fell into a state of the utnoat 
exasperation. A great number rushed forward, 
and, breaking through the Prussian guard, unanned 
as they Were, reached our side of the frootier. 
The brave commander of the light artillery, who 
was already on the Prussian territory with bk tat* 
tery, profiting by the circumstance that his horses 
were not yet unharnessed, returned, an^oined ow 
corps, with five pief^s of cannon.. Both officers 
and soldiers surrounded general Gielgud, and loudly 
demanded some explanation of this state of things. 
That general betrayed the utmost confusion, aad 
seemed wholly at a loss to satisfy these demands ; 



THE POtlSH tl£yOLqTION» 879 

his manner, indeed, w$is such as to encourage the 
suspicions of treason, which his previous conduct 
had but too well justified. At this moment, one 
of his officers, in a frenzy of patriotic indignation, 
advanced towards him, drew a pistol from his side, 
and exclaiming, " This is the reward of a traitor," 
shot hiin through the heart. After this sad event, 
general Chlapowski was sought after, and the same 
fate would have probably awaited him, had be not 
succeeded in concealing himself. A scene of great 
confusion then took place throughout the corps. 
General Rohland and the other officers ezerted 
themselves to tranquillize the soldiers, reminding 
them that our situation was critical, and that the 
Russians were pressing upon us. These appeals 
had the effect of restoring quiet ; and at about 4 
q'cIocJ^ the corps of general Rohland, joined by a 
part of that of Chlapowski, took up the march in 
the direction of Yurburg, in order to pass the Nie- 
men there, and attempt to reach Poland. At nighty 
we arrived at Wierzbna. After having marched 
four miles from the spot where the Prussian fron* 
tier was passed by general Chlapowski, we were 
met by an aid-de*camp of general Kreutz, sent 
with a flag of truce, and bearing a letter to general 
Rohland, which was read aloud, containing propo- 
sitions to surrender, and setting forth the circum- 
stances under which we were placed. In declining 
the proposition, general Rohland, among other ex- 
pressions, used the following : " The strength of 
your forces is well known to us ; we have seen 



380 tHE POLISH aEVOLUTlON* 

them at Powenduny and Worna. If Proi^deiice 
protected us there, it will still protect as 5'' and 
turoing towards the officers of his suite, he added, 
<< Gentlemen, look on my grey hairs ! they bate 
become blanched in a service of thirty years ooder 
the Polish eagles, and during that whole peiiod 1 
have endeavored to . keep the path of honor and 
duty. Permit me in my old age to continue it 
that path." The answer having been commimi- 
eated to the corps, the cry of •* Long life to Roh- 
land," burst forth on every side. The aJd-da-camp 
departed, and we continued our route. 

Having passed the night at Wierzbna, we arrived 
on the noon of the next day (the 14th,) at Nowe- 
Miasto, at which place we put to flight a squadroa 
of Russian cavalry posted there. Before reaching 
that town, and at the distance of about a half league 
from it, our cavalry had a small skirmish with four 
squadrons of the Russian light cavalry. This cav- 
alry fell upon a small detachment of our sappers, 
which had been detailed for the object of destroy- 
ing a bridge upon a branch of the mam road, at the 
distance of about a mile from it. The sappers, in 
withdrawing, kept up a fire, and thus drew the 
enemy on, till our cavalry falling upon them, dis- 
persed them, causing a considerable loss, and tak- 
ing several prisoners.* 



* In this afiair major the prince Giedroyc diadngoished himaelf 
at the head of his regiment, thd 6th chasseurs, add killed with lui 
own hand the conmiander of the enemy's cayalry, an ofiicer of the 
rank of general. 



THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 381 

On arriving at Nowe-Miasto, our commander 
sent a reconnoitering party in the direction of Yur- 
burgy in order to ascertain if any of the enemy's 
forces were there, and considering the strong posi- 
tion of Nowe-Miasto, he decided to remain there 
and to await the result of this reconnoissance. 
Our forces were placed in order of battle, to await 
the enemy, in case he should choose to make an 
attack. Remaining for two hours in this position, 
we were astonished that the enemy did not show 
hims*i|}f ; and a platoon of -cavalry, sent in the di- 
rection of the en(^my to observe him, returned with 
the intelligence that he was encamped at the dis- 
tance of two miles from us. 

Four hours had thus passed, when the arrival of 
a Prussian officer upon the frontier was announced, 
who requested an interview with our general. 
General Rohland, accompanied with a party of offi- 
cers, went to receive him. The Prussian officer 
was an aid-de-camp of the commandant general of 
the forces on this part of the frontier, (general 
Kraft, we believe). The officer, after some com- 
plimentary language, presented a letter from his 
commander, which was filled with expressions of 
respect and good will, and in which it was pro- 
posed that, in consideration of our position, sur- 
rounded as we were by a force so much superior 
to our own, and in a state of destitution in respect 
to arms and ammunition, we should accept the offer 
which the Prussian government had authorized him 
to make, in order to save the useless effusion of the 

48 



382 THE POUSH REVOLUllOH. 

blood of so many brave men, and throw oarselres 
upon the protection of its territory, where we would 
be convinced of the cordial disposition of that gov- 
ernment towards us, — adding, that our sojourn there 
would be short, and that we should soon be allowed 
to return to our firesides, as was the case with the 
Russian soldiers who had sought the same protec- 
tion. We have already mentioned that several 
detachments of Russian soldiers, who had before 
sought the protection of Prussia, had been alJowed 
to return with their arms and ammunition. Our 
generals, on being thus apprized of the liberal in- 
tentions of the Prussian goVernment, which were 
confirmo^ by the personal representations of the 
oflScer who brought the letter, — reflecting on the 
deplorable state of our soldiers, fatigued and weak- 
eiffed by so many forced marches ; the greater part 
of the infantry being without covering to their feet, 
which were lacerated with wounds ; the greater 
part of the cavalry, almost without horses, (for 
their s^nimals were so broken down, and chafed by 
unremitted use, as to be unfit for service ;) both 
artillery and infantry nearly destitute of ammuni- 
tion, a great quantity of which had been thrown 
into the river by the orders of generals Gie\g^ud 
and Chlapowski, on passing the frontier ; — consid- 
ering also the assurance which had been made that 
we could return to our country, and hoping there- 
fore to be able to renew their services to that coun- 
try at some more favorable period, — presented these 
circumstances to the whole corps, and solicited the 



THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 383 

opinion of the soldiers upon the question of acced- 
ing to the propositions of the Prussian government. 
The soldidts, manifesting their entire confidence in 
the judgment and the honor of their officers, signi- 
fied their assent to the acceptance of the proposi- 
tions, influenced strongly by the assurance of being 
allowed to return to their country. . In consequence 
of this assent, a protocol was prepared that night, 
and signed by our generals, and by several Prus- 
sian (officers on the other part, who came over for 
that object. On the morning of the next day, we 
passed the frontier and marched into the Prussian 
territory, and by that act the operations of the 
Lithuanian corps were ended. 



■: 



CHAPTER XXV. 

Effect of the newt of the Lithauian ditasten on the minda of the people. — 
Diitrott of the National GoTernment.— The Rnssian vcmj reeomee ^ €&»- 
tWe under general Paskewics. — He decides to paaa the Vistula^ — riiMJai 
tioB of the merits of this plan.— Plan of general Skrzjneclu to act oa i^ 
diilefent detadied corps of the enemy.— Advantagee of genenl OunBowiki 
o^rer the corps of Rudiger.— The Russian fbrces ezecato die paaeagc of *e 
Vistola.— /General Sknjnecki crosses Ae Vistula at Wamw to openle 
agdnet the enemy on the left bank.— An inqairy into the condMt of geMol 
Skrzjnecki, and the appointment of a Council of War is demanded bj the 
nation. — ArriTal of the coips of general Dembinski at Warsaw. 

While the nation was afflicted by the treasons at 
Warsaw, their hopes had been still kept alive by 
looking towards Lithuania. What, then, can ex- 
press- the (disheartening effect produced by the in- 
telligence that the Lithuanian corps existed no 
Iqpger ; — ^that that pillar, so essential to the sup- 
port of the fabric we had been rearing, had faUen ; 
and that this disaster had been brought on by the 
gross negligence, if not the treason, of those to 
whom that all-important expedition had been en- 
trusted. They felt that this was an almost mor- 
tal blow. They saw a horrible future opening 
upon them, prepared by parricidal hands. After 
such renewed outrages, the people fell into the 
greatest exasperation. That people, whose confi- 
dence had been so basely abused, whose holiest 
purposes had been so shamelessly sported with, 
seemed at last to have changed their nature. So 
often betrayed, they lost confidence in all, and 
seemed to see in every one a traitor. If, in the 



THE POUSH REVOLUTION. 385 

frensy of indignation, which such. an experience 
bad justified, they allowed themselves to be carried 
away by their feelings, and to be guilty of acts of 
severity, it can scarcely be wondered at. 

Immediately after the arrival of the sad news 
from Lithuania, the nation demanded explanations 
of the generalissimo. They demanded to know 
how he could have given the command of so im- 
portant an expedition to a man like Gielgud, one 
who had never been esteemed by the nation or the 
army, and who had not even the reputation of a 
general of talent. How could an expedition which 
demanded the very highest talents, and the most 
undoubted patriotism, have been confided to a tnan 
like him ? With him had been associated^eneral 
Chlapowski, who was the brother-in-law of the 
Grand Duke Constantino. That circumstance 
alcme, they justly considered, should have been 
enough to suggest suspicion, and to have at least 
indicated the expediency of keeping him near the 
eye of the commander in chief, and subject to his 
constant observation^ Such were the complaints 
of the people, and they went to the heart of the 
commander in chief, and the present of the Na- 
tional Government ; for they were conscious, but 
too late, of their justice.* 



* A few details of the histoiy of the two generals who were 
the cause of these fatal disasters, may gratify the curiosity of the 
reader. General Gielgud was bom in Lithuania, at Gielgudiski^ 
(the place at which he crossed the Niemen in ISSl). Passing 
over his early life, which presents nothing noticeable, he com- 



386 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 

The Russian army, the command of ivhichy oi 
the death of general Diebitsch, was taken by gen- 



menced his militory career in 1312, when Napoleon entered Lrtli- 
uania. In a moment of patriotic fervor, he formed a sinall de- 
tachment at his own expense, and joined the ranks of die sap- 
posed deliverer of Poland ; and this perhaps was the niost praise- 
worthy act of his life. During the campaign of 1812, 13, and 14, 
he was in no way distinguished either for good or bad ooodvcL 
At the end of the Russian campaign, in 1915, he was made coloiiel 
As during that year, Poland came under the Russian goremroeBt, 
our army was subjected to a change of organization, and as maoj 
.ofScers of high rank, who were in independent circumsitancesj 
gave up their commands, Gielgud then obtained the rank of gen- 
eral, at about the age of thirty. This rapid advancement, as was 
natural to a man of weak character, inspired him with an extreme 
of arrogance and pretension ; qualities which were encouraged in 
his interqpurse with the Russian generals, with whom he w» 
much associated. It was this arrogance which uniformly lost him 
the esteem of tl^ose under his command. 

** When the revolution broke out, general Gielgud was tt the 
town of Radom, and his life was in great danger fh>m the snapi- 
viona of which he was naturally the object, but he was protected bj 
some of the patriots, on the assurances which he gave of his |m- 
triotic dispositions. Still, however, th6 military demanded his 
removal fh>m his post, and, in fact, for some weeks he was with- 
out command. The dictator, Chlopicki, whose modes of action 
were, as the reader knows, too oflen inexplicable, restored him to 
his command, persuading himself that he was one of the best of 
patriots, and that ^his exterior was offensive, he was right at 
heart. In the war, — having first commanded a brigade, and after- 
wards a division, — while he was attached to the grand army, his 
conduct was not marked by any very great faults; inde^, in 
the battle of Minsk he performed his part well. It was such 
occasional exhibitions of good conduct which kept him in some 
consideration. 

After having taken command of the corps of Lithuania, and 
when he was removed from the observation of the army, he exhi- 
bited himself in his true character. He was giddy with the dif- 



TH£ POLISH REYOLUTION. ' 387 

eral count Paskewicz, and the main body of which 
remained in a state of inaction at Ostrolenka, hav- 



ti action, and feeling himself the absolute master of his own con- 
duct, be gave himself up to all the suggestions of his vanity. 

His first act of folly was to surround himself with a numerous 
suite, (It was in number four times that of the commander in chief,) 
in which suite those individuals were held in greatest esteem, who 
were most fertile in resources for amusement. It was to this love 
of personal gratification that we can attribute those delays which 
were sacrificing the cause of the country. At Gielgudiski the 
general gave a/cf/e to his ofilcers ; and it is not impossible that it 
was a motive of mere personal ostentation which induced him to 
make the passage of the Niemen, at that place, by which two days' 
march were given to the retreating enemy, time was allowed him 
to concentrate his forces in Wllna, and that capital was lost to us f 

This general was never seen to share the privations, fatigues, 
and ^posure of his subalterns. In his personal deportment he 
neglected the true means of gaining the confidence and attachment 
of his troops. On the eve of a battle, in moments of danger and 
anxiety, it is cheering to the soldier to see the face of his com« 
mander, and to' hear from him a few words of encouragement. 
These are apparent trifles, but they are in reality of most serious 
consequence. They are the secret keys by which every thing can 
be obtained from the soldier. The personal attachment of the 
soldier to his commander, is worth more than the finest com- 
binations in strategy and tactics. The commander, who succeeds in 
gaining the affection of the soldier, inspires him with a new im- 
pulse for exertion. To his other motives is added the dread of 
forfeiting the confidence and esteem of a friend 3 and perhaps, 
with the mass of an army, such a motive would yield to no other 
in efficiency. To the modes of conduct which would have secured 
this result, general Gielgud was an entire stranger. Instead of 
freely approaching the soldier and endeavoring to gain his attach- 
ment, he treated him with uniform coldness and reserve. It is 
on the whole a matter of just surprise, that a man with such glar- 
ing faults of character should have been^ appointed to so responsi- 
ble a trust. 

General Chlapowski commenced his military career also in 1813. 
In tlie Russian war he advanced to the*rank of officer, and wa« 



388 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 

ing no longer anj apprehensions from Litfaoanii, 
could now act with freedom, and the offensive 
was recommenced under the command of its new 
chief, who decided to pass the Vistula, and to act 
upon the left bank. 



made aid-de-camp of prince Poniatowski. While in this 

he adranced to the rank of a stafi" officer^ in which rank lie M 
the army in 1315, and retired to his estates in the grand ducky ef 
Pozen, where he married the sister of the princess of Xjowio, tke 
wife of the Grand Duke Constantino. The entrance ofthm wm- 
eral into the rerolotionary ranks excited considerable sunne. 
But as he joined himself to the squadrons of Pozen, whiet wen 
formed of the bravest and most patriotic materials, tfaer« was mt 
distrust felt of him. His successes in traversing the department of 
Bialostok, entitled him to die highest praise. It was this fine ex- 
pedition which gained him the confidence of the Li thoanEan corps, 
and after the batde of Wilna, they were unanimous in istiti^ 
him to take the chief conmiand. The nominal command, as we 
have related, he declined, but took a post which gave him the so- 
^iperintendence of all the operations. While he was thus in the 
direction of affairs, the greatest faults, as we have aeen, were 
committed, for which no adequate explanation can be given. We 
will recapitulate some of them.-^They were, 1. The sending of 
the sappers to build the bridge over the Nie«en. «. The ifrar- 
ranged attack on Schavla. 3. His not succoring general Bohhni 
in the combat of Powenduny. 4. The inexpDcaWe secresy which 
he kept upon his intention of passing the Prussian frontier 5 hav- 
ing left Kurszany for that object, whilst aU his officers were'given 
to understand that the separation of the corps at tiiat jWace was 
with the view of marching to act in the environs of Kowno. 
These are points upon which this officer has yet to answer at the 
bar of his country. Chlapowski was a more dangerous perm 
even than Gielgud, for Gielgud was a man of such undisguised 
arrogance, that he repelled the confidence of others ; but Chlapow- 
ski, with all the faults of Gielgud, had an exterior of disaimulatioB 
which won insensibly upon those who had not thoroughly studied 
his character. But none who had observed and known him wdl, 
could ever yield him their esteem. 

t 



THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 389 

i may be allowed to detain the attention of the 
reader a moment Upon this passage of the Vistula 
bj Paskewiez, a manoeuvre of which so much boast 
has been made^ and to consider whether it is really 
to be regarded as a great add bold step, or one of 
necessitj. What was the state of the Russian 
army after the battle of Ostrolenka ? — A month 
had passed, and that army had not made a single 
movement, but was kept there merely to be fed 
by Prussia^ Was not this inactivity an infallible 
evidence of weakness ? Does it not show that, 
alarmed by the prospects in Lithuania, it was in a 
state of hesitation, not daring to advance into the 
kingdcMD, and holding itself in readidess to evacu- 
ate it on an occasion of necessity,, which indeed 
seemed near at hand ? In this period of hesitation, 
the new general arrives from the regions of the 
Caucasus. He must do something. This question 
presents itself to him, — what course is best to be 
taken ? His army, now reinforced by the corps 
which had been in Lithuania, amounted to perhaps 
near one hundred and fifty thousand men. Al- 
though this force was considerable, yet to attack 
the fortifications of Praga, which, a9 is- known to 
the reader, had been augmented, and which the 
Russian army in their primitive and unimpaired 
strength had never had the temerity to attack, 
was out of the question. What other course could 
he take, unless he could submit to continue in this 
state of inactivity, but to pass the Vistula, and 
under the assistance of Prussia, to make his at- 

49 



390 THE POLISH REVOLUTMMi. 

tempts agaiBst Warsaw on the oliier side, a step, 
however, which he never would have dared to hare 
taken withom that assistance. This is the natoral 
explanation of that boasted plan, in which we can 
see nothing but an almost necessary moveraeot, 
encouraged by a reliance on Prussia. 

In the first dajs of the month of June the Ros^ 
sian army began to approach the Vistula, in order 
to execute the passage. Their march was in three 
principal columns, and was arranged in the follow- 
ing manner r—r-general Witt, commanding the col- 
umns of the left wing, took the direction of So- 
ehociEyn. The centre, under marshal Paskewicz, 
left for Sonk and Luberacz, passing the river 
Wkra at Maluszyn. The column of the fight, 
consisting of the imperial guard, under the con- 
mand of the grand duke Michael, marched from 
Makow, by Ciechanow and Racionz. General 
Pahlen commanded the advanced guard. A cask- 
siderable train of ammunition, with provisions for 
twenty days, and a park of artillery of reserve, 
formed the fourth column, and followed the im- 
perial guard. Detached posts towards Modlia 
and Serock, covered this march on the left. One 
regiment of dragoons remained at Pultask. This 
combined force consisted of 80,000 men and three 
hundred pieces of cannon. Besides these forces, 
there were in the kingdom, the corps of general 
Rudiger at Kaluszyn, and that of general Rott at 
Zamosc. Those two corps jnight now namber 
about 20,000 men, and some thirty pieces of can- 



THE POLISH REYOLUTION. 391 

Don. Opposed to these forces, we had an army of 
40,000 mea, and a hundred and twenty pi^es of 
cannon, not counting the national guard of War- 
saw, and the garrisons of the two fortresses of 
Modiin and Zamosc. 

The plan of our generalissimo was to throw 
himself upon the detached corps of the enemy, 
under Rott and Rudiger, and afterwards to act 
upon his main body. For this end an attack was 
ordered upon the corps of Rudiger, which was 
beaten in the environs of Minsk by the corps ^f 
general Chrzaaewski, in successive actions, on the 
14th, 15th, and 16th of July. A third part of his 
corps being destroyed, a thousand pisoners, four 
pieces of cannon and all his baggage taken, he 
was forced to retire behind Kaluszyn. After these 
new advantages, the general in chief prepared to 
act upon the rear of the Russian main army, and 
to attack them while engaged in the passage of the 
Vistula, which he supposed they would attempt 
either at Plock, or between Plock and Modiin. 
But as be was afterwards apprized thai the Rus^ 
sians were to attempt the passage at a much more 
distant point from Warsaw, and beyond his reach 
while on the right bank, he thought it most expe- 
dient to p»^ the Vistula at Warsaw, and to operate 
against the enemy on the other side. The Rus- 
sian army thus passed the Vistula without being 
intercepted, between the 12th and the 20th of 
July. Having reached the left bank, the enemy 
fook the direction of Lowicz, where, on the 27th 



392 THE POLISH RETOLUTIOV. 

the beadrquarters -of general Paskewicz were 
tablishdd, and whither our army marched to meet 

him. 

At this important moment, when the operatioBS 
of the 'enemy had taken a new face, and seemed, 
in the eyes of the people, by his near approach to 
Warsaw, to menace the utmost danger — maie 
more threatening in their imaginations by the fe- 
cent discovery of the conspiracy of Jankowski and 
the news of the misfortunes in Lithuania ; — at this 
anxious moment, the nation demanded a coancS 
of war^ and called on the National <jro?emBieiit to 
make an inquisition into the conduct of the gen- 
onl in chief, to demand of him full explanations of 
his purposes, and a submission of all his plans of 
operation to the examination of such a coanci). 
Such k council of war was instituted by the goT- 
ernment and directed to be attached to the person 
of the general, and to be initiated into all his de- 
signs, in order to be enabled to tranquillize and 
re-assure the minds of the nation, which had so 
naturally become distrustful and suspicious, after 
the events which had taken place. 

The council having been organized, and having 
taken an oath of secrecy, general Skrz5necki \aid 
before them all the plans of operation, that he had 
hitherto followed, as well as those which he had 
in contemplation, and gave a full exposition of the 
reasons for each. This council then published to 
the nation an address, announcing their entire con- 
fidence in the patriotic intentions of the general 



THE POLISH REYOLUTION. 393 

in chief, and assuring tbem that the crisis was by 
no means as dangerous as they apprehended. By 
these proceedings the minds of the people were 
much tranquillized, and this tranquillity was in- 
creased by the arrival of the corps of general Dem- 
binski froni Lithuania after its glorious retreat ; 
which arrival not only cheered them by the addi- 
tion which it brought to our forces, but by the 
more encouraging accounts than had before been 
received, which it gave of the state of Lithuania, 
authorizing some hope of a renewal of the insur- 
rection in that province at a more propitious hour. 



» • 



CHAPTER XXVI. 

Operations of general Dcmbinski'B corps.— He tmverses the coaataj beCsnee* 
Schavla and the Niemen without being obeenred by the enemj.— Attacks aad 
disperses a brigade of RoBsian infantry.— Passes the Niemen and Arvm him- 
self into the forest of Bialostok.— After leaving that forest, is jotned bj *s 
corps of general Rozychi.— Reaches Warsaw.— His leception at Warsaw^ 
View of the eiposed sitoation of Paskewicx after his passage of the Vistria.— 
Examination of the plan of operations of the Polish commander.— Mottid 
state of the public mind at Warsaw.— Skrzynecki and Czartoriski deprived rf 
their trosL — C^ture of the city.— Documents showing the iafliie»efreare» 
ed by the cabinets in discouraging active operations. — Conclusion. 

The corps of general Dembinski had been mare 
fortimate than those of Chlapowski and RoUandi 
That general, quitting Kurszany on the 9tk of July, 
returned, in obedience to the orders which we hare 
detailed, by means of the forests, to the environs 
of Scbavia, leaving the enemy upon the right, and 
without being observed by him;— he having ad- 
vanced with his whole force in the direction of 
Woma, under the belief that our undivided forces 
were in that position. This corps traversed the 
country between Schavla and Rosseyny, and ar- 
rived during the night of the 15th at Janow, where 
they dispersed a squadron of the enemy's cavalry 
and took fifty prisoners, and passed there the river 
Wilyia without interruption, from thence they 
left for the environs of Kowno, where, not far from 
Rumszyski, on the 16th, they met a brigade of 
Russian infantry, which was on the march from 
Wikia to the frontier of Poland. 

General Dembinski attacked this brigade with 
such impetuosity, that they were thrown into the 



. ^ 



THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 395 

greatest consternation. Two cannons and several 
prisoners were taken. The-great forests, by which 
the Russians were able to effect their escape, alone 
saved this brigade from entire destruction. Hav- 
ing thus opened their road, thej took the direction 
of the town of Lida, passing the Niemen not far 
from that place. Afterwards they threw them- 
selves into the forests of Bialostok, and in these 
forests the corps was reinforced by a considerable 
number of Lithuanian insurgent cavalry, which had 
been acting with great advantages over the enemy^ 
by cutting off his transports of ammunition and 
other modes of harassing him, during the whole of 
our campaign. This force wds under the command 
of colonel B***. General Dembinski quitted the 
forests, in the environs of Orla, and leaving the 
town of Bielsk on his right, passed through the 
town of Bocki, near which he surprised and dis^ 
persed a regiment of cossacks, and took several 
prisoners, and among them a number of officers* 
In the environs of Siemiatycze, where the corps 
arrived on the 20th of June, they were arrested by 
the sudden appearance of a large body of troops. 
General Dembinski halted and placed his forces in 
order of battle, sendfng his flankers in advance. 
On the other side the same movement was made. 
The flanking parties of the opposite, forces ap- 
proached each other, but what was the astonish- 
ment of the two corps at seefing the tirailleurs, in 
place of firing upon each other, rushing into each 
other's arms, and rending the air with patriotic 



3% THE PaUSH REVOLUTION. 

exclamations. The corps which was thus met bj 
that of general Dembinski, was the corps of gen- 
eral Roz^chi, which had been sent from oar grand 
armj to reinforce the corps of general Gielgod. 
The reader will now call to mind the plan of ope- 
rations proposed by colonel Valentin after the bat- 
tle of Wilna ; and the arrival of this reinforcemeat 
at the very spot which was to have been the pcHOt 
of concentration aggravates the regret that hb 
plans were not adopted. Nothing could exceed 
the satisfaction of the two corps at thus meetio^i* 
General Rozychi, learning the disastrous circum- 
stances which had occurred, changed his plan of 
operation, and decided to unite himself with the 
corps of general Dembinski, and to return with it 
to the grand army. The junction of these two 
corps had scarcely taken pla^e, wksn a cloud of 
dust, in the direction of Bielsk, announced the 
march of another body of troops. A small recon- 
noissance, sent in that direction, returned with the 
intelligence that it was the Russian corps under 
Golowkin. Our generals, considering all circum- 
stances, determined not to engajge with them, and 
continued their march towards Poland, passii^ at 
night the river Bug. They (hen took (he direction 
of Wengrow and Kahiszyn, and by that route ar- 
rived at Warsaw, toward the end of the month of 
July. 

The corps of general Dembinski, which had 
traversed more than four hundred miles in about 
twenty days from its departure firom Kurszany, in 



^ 



THE POLISH REVOLOTION. 397 

the midst of detachments of the enemy, was re- 
ceived by the nation with the greatest enthoslasm. 
The president of the senate, prince Actam Czarto- 
riski, the generalissimo Skrzjnecki, with all the 
officers of government, followed by an immense 
body of citizens, met him at the distance of a ha\( 
league from the city ; and he was greeted with an 
address expressive of the thanks of the nation for* 
his conrageous and persevering exertions. It end- 
ed in the following terms : — ^^ Dear general, and 
brethren in arms, you will be a living reproach to 
those who,' forgetting their sacred duties, have, by 
their misconduct, forced their, countrymen to lay 
down their arms, and seek the protection of anoth- 
er nation." 

To commemorate the brave exertions of this 
corps, and to transmit these events to posterity, 
the address above referred to was ordered to* be 
enregistered in the volumes of the public laws. A 
printed copy was also given to each soldier.of the 
oorps. At the same time a commission was ap- 
pointed to inquire into the conduct of generals , 
Gietgud and Chlapowski. 

When we consider the maaner in which the Rus- 
sian army, after their passage of the Vistula, pass- 
ed the interval between the 27th of July (the day 
of their arrival at Lowicz) and the 15th of August, 
we sfhall be at a loss to account for their inaction. 
If {general Paskewicz was in a condition to take 
Warsaw, he covU gani nothing by this repose. 
Nay, every moment of delay might iacrease the 

60 



398 THE POLISH REVOLOTION. 

difficulties he would ^ have to overcoiiie. Why 
then all this delaj ? What could have prevented 
us from reinforcing our ranks, strengthening the 
fortifications of Warsaw, and even sending another 
corps, however small, into Lithuania, to support a 
new insurrection ? Such a corps could have easftj 
made its way even in the midst of the Ros^i 
detached corps remaining on the other side of the 
Vistula, and indeed those corps, so imprudently 
left there, could have been beaten in detail bjr oar 
forces. If these circumstances are well considered, 
the reader will be satisfied that this manoeuvre of 
passing the Vistula, though in appearance so threat* 
ening to us, was in reality a most imprudent step 
on the enemy's part, and exposed him to the most 
imminent danger. Many detailed consideratioDS 
might be given upon this point, but as they would 
occupy much space, and would withdraw us too ftr 
from the purpose of this narrative, we must leave 
them to abler pens. The general view, howevcf, 
which we have taken of the position of the enemy, 
will be enough to awaken the astonishment of the 
reader that the event of the contest sboold have 
arrived so suddenly and so fatally to us. We are, 
therefdre, led to present some reflectimis upon 
what seems to us to have be^n the true causes of 
the disastrous issue of the struggle. 

We may, in the first place, be permitted to re- 
mark that the removal of our army from Warsaw 
to Lowicz to meet the enemy there, does not ap- 
pear to have been a fortunate disposition. By it, 



THE POLISH RfiYOLUTION. 399 

soDae twenty dajs were spent in indecisive ma- 
iMBuvres against a superior force. If, during that 
interval, in place of marching to meet the enemy, 
the army had been concentrated in the environs of 
Warsaw, and employed in constructing fortifica- 
tioQS upon the great roads leading to Warsaw, from 
Blonia, Nadarzyn, Piaseczua, and Kalwaryia, as a 
first line of defence, and in strengthening the great 
fortifications of Warsaw ; — then, leaving half of our 
force to defend these fortifications, we might have 
crossed the Vistula with the other half, and acted 
upon all the detached corps of the enemy on the 
right bank, and have, besides, intercepted all the 
reinforcements for the main army of Paskewicz. 
Our commnnications, also, with the provinces, be- 
ing thus opened, and th«ir territory freed from the 
presence of the enemy, we should have again been 
enabled to avail ourselves of their co-operation. I 
cannot but think that if such a plan of operation 
bad been adopted, for which, in fact, there was 
ample time in the interval above named, an alto- 
gether different turn. would have been given to our , 
affairs. «. 

If the ol^ection should be made that the delay 
which actually occurred could not have been rea- 
sonably anticipated, and that Paskewicz might 
have immediately advanced to the attack of War- 
saw, still, without entering for the present into 
more detailed considerations in support of my opin- 
ion, it will be enough to answer, that if twenty- 
fom hours merely were to be had, those twenty- 



400 TH£ POLISH RSTaLUTIOSr. 

four hours should have beeu employed in fortifica- 
tioD rather than mwaceuvring^ for it was not at 
Lowiczy but uoder the walls of Warsaw, that the 
enemy were to be fought. As it was at W»saw, 
then, that the decisive encounter nuiist inevitabiy 
hare taken place, would it not have been the oMBt 
judicious course to hare confined tmr operatioDs oa 
the left bank of the Vistula, to the streagtheniif 
of the defences of Warsaw ; to have in hct adopted 
in regard to the en&Djj who had now traaaferred 
bis strength to the left bank of the Vistufa, rlie 
same course of operations which we had hitheFto 
pursued against him while he was in occupation of 
the right ; in short, to have made of Warsaw an- 
other Praga. Our course of operatiosa sboold in 
fact have been just reversed, to correspond with 
the change which the enemy's passage of the Vis- 
tula had made in our relative positions. While be 
was on the right bank, the region on the left of the 
river was open to us, and there were our resources; 
but now that he was acting with his main army on 
the left bank, it should have been our aim, by 
aiyiihilating bis detached corps, to have i>peoed to 
our operations the whole region of the right, which 
was far more extensive than ibe other, and whidi, 
besides, had the advantage to us of being contigu- 
ous to the insurrectionary* provinces. In cnse of an 
attack on Warsaw, which of course could not be an 
affair of a few days only, that part of oor forces 
operating on the right bank could be withdrawn in 
ample season to present our whole strength to the 
enemy in its defence. 



THE POLISH aSVOLUTIOM. 401 

^Sioce I have allowed myself to make the above 
remarks in regard to the plans of the general in 
chief, 1 must also be permitted to add that, at that 
period of inquietude and distrust, the presence of 
the commander in chief and of the president of 
the National Government, at Warsaw, was of the 
utoiosl importance. That presence was continu- 
ally needed to act on the minds of the people, to 
preserve union and tranquillity, and to discover and 
bring to exemplary punishment the traitors who 
had been plotting the ruin of their country; in 
short, to encourage the patriotic and to alarm the 
treacherous. If those two individuals so deserv- 
edly beloved and honored by the nation had been 
present, we doubt whether those melancholy scenes 
at Warsaw, on the 14tb, 15th, and 16th of Auguat, 
when some forty persons who were under con- 
viction of treason, perished by the hands of the 
people, would ever have taken place. Revolting 
as those scenes were, we must yet consider whe- 
ther the circumstances of the moment will not 
afford some palliation for tliem. Deserted by those 
who bad. been the ot^ects ef their profoundest at- 
tachment and confidence, — haunted by the recollec- 
tions of the terrible disasters which had been in- 
cuned, and which they could attribute to nothing 
diort of treason, — seeing twenty days again sacri- 
ficed, during which the Russian corps from Lithu- 
ania were permitted to pas^ the Vistula, (that of 
Kreutz at Plock, and that of Rudager at Pulawa,) 
and join dieir main army ; in fine, seeing this im- 



402 TfiS POLISH AEYOLUTIOK. 

meiice Russian force approaching the capital, from 
which perhaps tbey were expecting a repetitioo of 
all the atrocities of Suwarow, — rememberiiig the 
thousands of victims which these traitors had ad- 
ready sacrificed, and reflecting on the tboosaiids 
whom they had plotted to sacrifice ; can it be won- 
dered that, in those moments of despair, that peo- 
ple should have yielded to their impulses of indig- 
nation and have chosen rather to sacrifice at ance 
those convicted traitors, than permit them to live, 
and perhaps be the instruments of the veag^eanca 
of the conqueror. Abandoned thus by those wbo 
should have been near to tranquillize them, the 
people took that justice into their own hands which 
the government had neglected to execute, and with 
t|ieir suspicions operated upon by this accumniattoa 
of disasters, they went to the degree of demanding 
the removal from their posts of prince Czartoriski 
and the general in chief. 

Such are, I think, the true explanations of those 
acts, so serious in their consequences, and which 
have created so much surprise* The removal of 
Skrpynecki from the chief command was certainly 
one of the most deplorable results of this disordered 
state of the minds of the people ; — for who could 
so well meet the exigencies of the time as he, 
familiar with eVery detail, engaged in the midst of 
events, and possessing the entire confidence of the 
army ? It was in this period of distrust and sus- 
picion that the Russian army, which seemed to 
have been waking only for such a moment, receiv- 



THE POLISH REYOLUTIOlf. 403 

ed the intelligence from some traitors, yet updis- 
covered) within the walls of Warsaw, that the time 
had arrived for their attack. It was undoubtedly 
directed by such intelligence, that they made their 
attack on Warsaw, at the moment when the great- 
er part of our army had been sent by its new com- 
mander, Prondzynski, to act on the right bank of 
the Vistula against the corps of Golowkin, which 
was menacing Praga. The city thus defended by 
the national guard and a small part of the army 
alone, and distracted by the divisions which Rus- 
sian intrigues had fomented, fell, after a bloody 
defence,* and the fate of Poland was decided. 

We have stated our belief that the fatal events 
which hastened the catastrophe might have been 
prevented by the mere presence, at the capital, of 
the heads of the army and the National Govern- 
ment, at those trying moments which brought on 
that disordered state of the public mind. Of this 
error we caanot readily acquit them, upright and 
patriotic as we know their intentions to have been. 
But upon the other point — that mysterious inac- 
tion of our forces, for so considerable a pepod, 
there is an important light thrown, in the follow- 
ing extracts from the correspondence of the prince 
Czartoriski wkh the French minister of the Exte- 
rior, read in the chamber of deputies, on the 19th 

* As the author was attached to the Lithuanian corps, and as 
he was actually in a Prnssian prison at the time of the capture ol 
Warsaw, he cannot undertake to give any details upon so impor- 
tant an event with the limited information at present at his com- 
mand. 



404 THE P0I.ISH RRY0LUTI05. 

of September, bj the venerable general Lafajerte, 
and in the extracts from his remarks, and those of 
general LanAarque, made on that occasion, and 
which have probably before met the eye of the 
reader. 

SXT&^OT FROM THS LKTTBB OV PKINOB OZAMTOMMMEM. 

«< But we relied updn the magnanimhj and the 
wisdom of the cabinets ; trusting to them, we have 
not availed ourselves of all the resources which 
were at oar command, both exterior and interior. 
To secure the approbation of the cabinets, to de- 
serve their confidence, and to obtain their support, 
we have never departed from the strictest modera- 
tion ; fojr which moderation, indeed, we have par- 
alyzed many of the efforts which might have saved 
us in those latter days. But for the promises of 
the cabinets, we should have been able to Hrike a 
blow, which perhaps would have been decisive. We 
thought that it was necessary to temporize, to 
leave nothing to chance — ^and we have at last seen 
the certarnty, at the present moment, that there is 
nothing but chance that can save tis." 

General Lafayette : " If it be said that the pro- 
mises here referred to might hav6 been only an 
affair of the gazettes, — I answer, that I have de- 
manded explanations of the Polish legation, and 
here is the reply which I have obtained. 

" * In answer to the letter which we have re- 
ceived from you, general, we hasten to assure you — 



THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 405 

"*1.. That it was thje Minister of Foreign 
Affairs who engaged us on the 7th of July, to send 
a messenger to Warsaw, whose travelling expen- 
ses were advanced bj the Minister : that the ob- 
ject of this messenger was, as his Excellency the 
Count Sebastiani told us, to induce our govern- 
ment to wait two months longer, for that was the 
time necessary for the negociations. 

" * 2. That the circular of our Minister of For- 
eign Affairs, dated the Idth of August, signed by 
the Minister ad interim, Audne Horodyski, and 
also another circular of the 24th of the same 
month, signed by the new Minister of Foreign Af- 
fairs, Theodore Morawski, came to our hands by 
the post of the 14th current ; that they are the 
same circulars which we at first officially commu- 
nicated to the Count Sebastiani, on the 15th of 
September, and which we immediately after ad- 
dressed to the journals, where they appeared on 
the 17th and 18th, and that those two circulars in 
fact explain the effect which the mission of the 
above envoy produced at Warsaw. 

"*Le Gen. Kniazewiecz — L : Plater.'" 
Paris J the 20th November ^ 1831. 

■ 

Gen. Lamarque : " Poland ! Can it be true 
that this heroic nation, who offered her bosom to 
the lance of the Tartars only to serve as a buckler 
for us, is to fall because she has followed the coun- 
sels which France and England have given her ! 
Thus then is to be explained the inaction of her 

51 



406 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 

army at the momeDt when it ought to baTe taken 
a decisive step. Thus is to be explained the irres- 
olution of the generalissimo, who from the first 
moment had showed so much audacity and skill. 
We may now know why he did not profit by the 
passage of the Vistula, which divided the army of 
the enemy, to give him battle either on one bank 
or the other. The minister rejects with indigna- 
tion this imputation of complicity. He declares 
formally that he had made no promise, that he had 
given no hope, that he had fixed no date. — Hon- 
orable Poles, whom I have seen this morning, af- 
firm the contrary. Our colleague, M. Lafayette, 
will give you details, almost official, on this sub- 
ject." 



SCfiSION or THE 13th SEPTEMBER. 

Gen. Lafayette : " I will ask this, without the 
least expectation of receiving a reply, but only to 
render a just homage to the conduct of the Poles, 
and of their government, — I will ask, if it is true 
that the Poles were urged by the French govern- 
ment, by the English ministers, and by the French 
ambassador at London, to use moderation, and not 
to risk a battle, because the measures which those 
powers were to take in behalf of Poland would not 
be delayed but for two months, and that in two 
months Poland would enter into the great family 
of nations. — Those two months have expired ; 
and I state this here to render justice to the con- 



THii POLISH REVQLUTION. 407 

duct of the Polish government, the Polish army, 
and its chief, who may have thought that on his 
giving a general battle, to prevent the passage of 
the Vistula, they could thv^art the good intentions 
of the French and English government in this re- 
spect. I think that this will be considered a fair 
procedure towards Messieurs the Ministers, to 
whom the questions shall be addressed on Mon- 
day, to apprize them that this is one of those which 
will be then submitted to them." 

These documents will be for the present age and 
for posterity an explanation of the true causes of 
the ruin of Poland. She fell not by the enormous 
forces of her enemy, but by his perfidious intrigues. 
We cannot accuse France or England, and indeed 
no Pole does accuse them ; for, although we may 
have some enemies in those countries, yet we 
cannot conceive of the "Existence of any causes of 
hostility towards us, by which those nations can 
be actuated.* They were blinded by the promises 
of Russia, — ^by the solemn assurancesf which ,she 
gave, that she would soon arrange every thing in 
the most favorable manner for Poland. In this 
web of intrigue were those cabinets entangled, 
who would else have followed the common dictates 
of humanity in succoring Poland. While she was 
thus deceiving the cabinets, Russia was doing her 
utmost to sow distrust and disunion among our 

• Appendix No. III. IV. t Appendix No. IV. 



408 THE POLISH REVOLOTION. 

people. It was her intrigues, through the instni- 
meutality of the rrairors whom she had gained for 
her accomplices, that caused the estrangement of 
the nation from Skrzynecki, who, having a true 
Polish heart, had repelled all her vile attempts to 
shake his integrity, and whoj by his talent and 
energy, had so often defeated and might still de- 
feat the enormous masses which she had sent 
against us. Those intrigues succeeded, and Rus> 
sia gained her end in overwhelming Poland with 
misery ; not reflecting that by so doing she was 
bringing misfortunes upon her own head. Russia, 
by a liberal concession to Poland of her national 
rights, could have been truly great. Not to speak 
of the influence of the Polish institutions upon the 
happiness of her own people ; her true stability 
and strength could in no way be so well secured 
as by the independent existence of Poland. They 
who have labored for our destruction were not 
then true Russians ; they were the enemies of 
their country and of humanity ;*^heartless calcula* 
tors, acting with a single view to their own per- 
sonal aggrandizement ; — men, in fact, who have 
no country but self. Equally the enemies of the 
monarch and of the people, they make the one a 
tyrant, and sport with the misery of the other. 



APPENDIX 



APPENDIX. 



No. I. 

HISTORICAL VIEW OF LITHUANIA. 

Ir, notwithstanding the many good works recently published 
upon Poland, the history of that country is still but imperfectly 
known to the rest of the world ; it may be said that the history 
of Lithuania is almost absolutely unknown to the people of the 
West. It is generally thought that it has always composed an 
integral part of the Russian empire, and that it was only occa- 
sionally that it has held relations with ancient Poland ; — a false 
impression, and one which the public journals have but too fre- 
quently assisted in propagating. The truth is, that for ^yb hun- 
dred years, Lithuania has voluntarily associated herself with the 
destinies of ancient Poland, and it is only with shame and reluc- 
tance that she has borne the Russian yoke. But that which is of 
great importance at present to consider, is, the ancient sympathy 
which has constantly united the two people. There is a common 
spirit of nationality, which, notwithstanding the studiously con- 
trived disintegration of their territory, has always animated the 
Lithuanians and the Poles ; — a most important fact, for it is on 
this fraternity of feeling and community of opinion between the 
ancient Polish provinces, that the salvation of modem Poland es- 
sentially depends. We will endeavor, by presenting to the reader 
the following extracts from the work of Leonard Chodzko, to 
throw some light upon the political history of this interesting 
portion of the Slavian race. 

*' For a long time a distinct power, and governed by its Grand 
Dukes, united for the first time with Poland in the year 1386, and 
making, in 1569, an integral part of the republic of Poland, Li- 
thuania, from that epoch, to that of 1795, formed, in the political 
state, the third province of Poland ; being composed of the pala- 



412 APPENDIX. 

tioates of Wilna, of Troki, the duchies of Starostia, and Samo- 
gitia, of Nowogrodec, of Brzsclitewski, of Minsk, of Polock, of 
Witepak, Mscislaw, and of Smolensk. This Grand Duchy was 
bounded on the north by Courland, Semigaltia, Polish LiToma, 
and the province of Great Nowogorod ; on the east by Mobcotj ; 
on the south by the Ukraine, Volhynia, and the country of Chelme; 
on the west by the Baltic Sea, the duchy of Prussia, and the pala- 
tinates of Podlasia and LuUin. Its arms were a cavalier ii Ml 
speed, with a sabre raised over his head. This cavalier of litb- 
uania, joined with the white eagle of Poland, figured inseparaUy 
upon the arms of the republic, upon the national standards, the 
public edifices and the coins, up to the moment when foreign force 
and domestic treason struck a liberticide blow at that union which 
ages had consecrated. In 1S12, for a moment, those fratenal 
arms were united i but separated again, they once more floated 
upon every banner aAer the memorable date of the 39th of No- 
vember. According to ancient traditions, towards the year 900, 
there landed on the coast of Samogitia, between Memel, Polonga, 
and Libau, a colony of Italians, who introduced into that coontiy 
a certain degree of civilization, and firom thence came that multi- 
tude of Latin words which are to be remarked in the Lithuanian 
language. From these Italian families, arose several sover^ga 
dynasties, which governed Lithuania and Samogitia. Of this 
origin, viere, without doubt, the Gerules or Heniles, who formerly 
governed Lithuania. This people is the same which in the fifth 
century invaded Italy, with Odacre, and returning on their steps, 
spread themselves upon the shores of the Baltic, which embrace, 
at the present day. Oriental Prussia, Lithuania, Samogitia, and 
Courland. 

<< The Lithuanians, though subjugated first by the Russians, 
did not fail to ro^ke their strength soon felt by their invaders. In 
the 18th century, when the Tartars ravaged on one side the Rus- 
sian States, the Lithuanians on the other side took possession of 
Grodno, Brzesc, and Drohyczyn, and did not stop till they reach- 
ed the banks of the Prypec and the town of Mozyr. In the north 
their victorious arms were pushed as far as the Dwina, and the 
city of Polock. In the year 1330, the Russians, under Mscislaw- 
Romanowicz, declared war upon Lithuania, but they were bealeo 
near the river Tasiolda, and the Lithuanians augmented their 
possessions by the occupation of Pinsk and Turow. Ringold was 
the first who took the title of Grand Duke of Lithuania, in 1335. 



APPENDIX. 413 

Mindowe or Mendog, having promhied the Pope to embrace the 
Christian religion, was crowned king of Lithuania in 1353, at 
Nowogrodek ; but this did not continue long, for Mindowe, find- 
ing himself deceived, returned to Paganism, and died in 1363. 
From 1280 to 1315, the dukes Latuwer and Wit^nes reigned over 
this country ; but the greatest power of Lithuania dates from the 
fourteenth century, when G^ymin seized the reins of govern- 
ment. Impatient to crush the Russian power, which had dis- 
tressed Lithuania, this prince defeated the enemy in 1390, upon 
the river Pima, made himself master of Volhynia, of Ktiovie, of 
Sewerie, of Czemiechovia, and extended his boundaries as far as 
Putiwel upon the Di^na. In 1340, when4jredymin perished upon 
the field of battle by the hands of the Teutonic knights, the Tar- 
taro-Ruasian power commenced ravaging Polodia, but Olgerd, 
successor of G^ymin, came to the succpr of his nephews, Korya- 
towicz, who were in possession of that province, deftated the 
Tzars of the Tartars in a pitched battle, and extended the terri- 
toiy of Lithuania as far as the banks of the Don and the Black 
Sea. To form an idea of the extent of the Lithuanian provinces, 
it is sufficient to point out here tibe partition between the sons of 
Cr^ymin: Monwid possessed Kiemowand Slonim ; £farymond — 
Pinsk, Mozyr, and a part of Volhynia: Olgerd — Krewo, the an- 
cient capital of the duchy, and all the country as far as the Bere- 
zina: Kieystat — Samogitia, Troki, and Podlachia: Koryat — No- 
wogrodek and Wolkowysk: Lubar — ^Wlodgimierz, with the rest 
of Volhynia: Jawnat — ^Wilna, Osmiana, Willkomierz, Braslaw. 
The last succeeded first to his father, but afler his death it was 
Olgerd who took the reins of government. 

'* Olgerd' was the most powerful ofuhe sovereigns of Lithuania. 
The repubfic of Pskow, in 1346, and that of Nowogorod, in 1349, 
acknowledged him for their master. In 1363, the Tartars of P6- 
r^kop (Krimea), became his vassals. On the east, embracing the 
cause of the duke of Twer, he came three times, in 1368, 1370, 
1373, to*break his lance against the ramparts of the city of Mos- 
cow ; of that city where at a later day the great generals of Po- 
land and of Lithuania, and at last, in 1812, the Gallo-Polono- 
Lithuanian lances were crossed in fVont of the superb Kremlin ! 
Kiegstut powerfully seconded his brother in his conquests. It was 
under such auspices that Olgerd, descending to the tomb, left his 
brilliant inheritance to Jagellon, one of his thirteenth sons. Ja- 
gellon, who ascended the grand-duca! throne in 1381, ceded it to 

62 



414 AFPEKDIX. 

his couBin Witold, in 1986^ when lie went to place vpoo his hni 
the crown of the PiastB^ to unite his hand to that of Hedw^e, and 
to cement forever the glorions junction of Lithuania and Pdaiid. 
In 1599, he gave the goTemroent of the duchy of Siv^r^Nowo' 
gorodien and the republic of Nowogorod-the-Great to his two 
hrothers ', while on the other side^ his cousin Wicold, bdng at- 
tacked in his new conquests by the Tartars, beat them, chaaed a 
part of them beyond the Don, and transported thoae who fell iMo 
his hands into the different countries of Ltthnaata, wh%re, iostsai 
of reducing th^n to slavery, he gave them possessions, with the 
liberty of freely exercising their religioBs rights. It was the de- 
scendants of those Tartars who showed themselves such worthy 
children of their adopted coontiy, at the epoch of the war of ia- 
dependence, in 1794, and in the campaign of ISIS. In this man- 
ner Witold acquired the possession, not only of the RusoiaB ttr- 
ritoriesf dettvered ^m the yoke of the Tartars by his grandfathw 
and his uncle, but these winch were held by the other small Trana- 
Borystbenian Tzars. Taming ^nn his victorious army lo the 
north, he forced the northern republics, whose fidefity be aaspeet- 
ed, to humUe themselves before him, and recogn^ his unqaafi- 
fied supremacy. In £oe, Poland and Lithuania arrived, at that 
epoch, to such a degree of power, that the dukes of Mazovia and 
Russia, the Tzars of Moscow, Basile, that of Twer Borys, that of 
Riezan, Olegh, the little Tzars of P^r^kop and Ycdga, the Ten- 
tonic masters, the Prussians and Livonians, in fine, the emperor 
of Germany, Sigismond himself, accompanied by his wile, and 
several princes, Erik, king of ipenmark and Sweden, as well as 
the ambassadors of the emperor of the Sast, Paleogogus, present- 
ed themselves to Wladislas^agellon, at Luck, in Volhynia, and 
held there a gfeneral congress in 1428, In which they deliberated 
upon the war against the Ottomans ; and at which the emperor of 
Germany attempted in vain, by means yf intrigues, to throw^ some 
seeds of dissension between Jagellon and Witold. Witold died ia 
1 430. Kasimir le Jagellon, successor " of Wladislay, war reigning 
still with eclat ; when the moment approached, at which from one 
side the Ottomans began to take possession of the Tauride, Whila 
a new Muscovite, power, subjugating the Russians fVom the north 
and east, were soon to contract the frontiers of Lithuania. 

"All this, however, could have no effect upon the union of the 
two nations, which daily acquired new strength ; for, subseqnendy 
to the first union of 1S86, a Diet, in 141S, held in the bourgof 



APPENDIX. 415 

Ho4&ldo, having declared the Lithuanians to he on an equal foot- 
ing with the Poles in regard to taxes and laws, many Lithuanian 
families allied themselves with Polish families ; in fine, the arms 
of the two nations were united. It was then determined that the 
Lfithuanians should receive their grand duke from the bands of the 
king of Poland, and that, when the latter should die without chil- 
drea or descendants worthy to succeed him, the Poles should elect 
iheir new king conjointly with the lichuanians. The alliance 
coQoliided in 1413, was renewed in 1499 ; and it was added, ex- 
plicitly, that th^ Lithuanians should not efect their grand duke 
without the concurrence of the Poles, nor the Poles their king, 
without that of the Lithuaniaife. in 1561, the knights militant 
submitted themselves, and the part of Livonia whif h remained 
^th them, to the domination of the king of Poland, as grand duke 
of Lithuania ; the new duke of Courland became also his feuda- 
tory- In fine, in ^569, under Sigismond- Augustus, the Poles and 
Ltithuantaos held a Diet at Lublin, in which lite grand duchy was 
liaiited to the kingdom of Poland, so that they thereafter formed 
but one body, subject to one prince, who was conjointly elected 
by the two nations, under the double title of king of Poland and 
girand duke of Uthuania. It was agreed, also, that the Diet should 
be always held at Warsaw, that the two people should have the 
same senate, the same chamber of deputies ", that their coins should 
be of the same designation ; that, in fine, their alliances, their 
auxiliary troops, and every thing, should be in common. The 
campaigns ef Moscow under Sigismond HI., Wladislaz lY., and 
£tienne Batory, amply proved that the Lithuanians were .worthy 
of'Calling the Poles brethren 9 for they were found ready for every 
sacrifice, when the general good of the country was in question. 
In the laws of 1673, 1677, and 1685, it was ruled that each third 
Diet should be held in Lithuania at Grodno ; the Diets of convo- 
cation, and of election and coronation were excepted, however, 
from this mle. In 1697, the Polish and Lithuanian laws received 
an equal force and authority. 

" At the epoch of the regeneration of Poland, the Lithuanians 
gave the most convincing proofs of their devotedness to the Polish 
cause, in the last years of the existence of Poland. In efifect, when 
they became satisfied that, for the common interest, and to give 
more consistency to the new form of government which it was 
proposed to establish, at the Diet of 17S8, it was necessary to 
strengthen still more the relations between Lithuania and the 



416 APPENDllt. 

crown ; that is to itsfs between Little and Great Pdlaiid, 0d«i t$ 
form out of the three proriiicee a siDgle powerful statei aad to 
oUiterate totally all the distioctions which had before ^zisied be* 
tween the Poles and the Lithaanianfl, they made t^tishmtaiy saen- 
fice of the priyileges which they had held with great pertmacityi 
and renounced, without hesitation, that of having a ae^raftf amiy 
and treasury, consenting to unite themselves under a sio|\e ateini^ 
istration with the two other provinces. 

" The Whole world was witness to the heroism which the UAr 
nanians dbplayed in4he glorious confe^raition of Bar, finom 1718 
to 1773 ; in the campaigns of 1793 and 1794, against foreign rapa- 
city, when Kosciusko, a Lithua]((ian by birth, covered with in- 
perishable laurels the chains of Poland. The Lithuanians fell, ba 
they fell with the whole of Poland, and were buried in the commoa 
ruin. How nobly have not the Lithuanians been seen to figure 
among the brave Polish patriots, who sought in France, in Ita^, 
and in Turkey, sotne chances of restoration for a coontry which 
had been the victim of foreign ambition ! And how mafny of tben 
have not been found under the banners of Dombrowaki, in Italy, 
and imder those of Kniaziewiez, upon the Danube ? Have we not 
seen, in the years 1806 and 1809, twelve thousand LlthnaniaDs, 
united with their brethren, the Volhynians, the PodoKans;, and die 
Ukranians, hastening to range themselves under the bannera of the 
army of the Grand Duchy of Warsaw? In 1813, their joy was 
extreme, when they thought that their political existence was, at 
last, about to be renewed. Then was seen the cavalier of Uthn- 
ania, united with the white eagle, decorating the flags planted on 
the walls of Wilna. But the disastrous retreat of the French aiqiy 
struck a mortal blow to the destinies of those countries. The 
kingdom of Poland was proclaimed in 1815 ; the Diets of Wamw, 
of 1818, 1830, and 1835, preserved silence respecting the lot of the 
Grand Duchy of Lithuania. A look fuU of hope firom all Lkhn- 
ania was turned once more towards Warsaw, upoq the 34th of 
May, 1839, the day of coronation of Nicholas the Ist, but the re- 
union of Lithuania was not even made a question of.^ 

[Tableau de la PologfUf aneierme et modeme, par M<au Bnm, tdiHtm r^fbm- 
due et augmenUe p<ar Leimord Chodxko. Parit, 1851. pp. 
Tom. r.] 



APPENDIX. 417 



No. II. 

At>DttES8 OF THE HATIOHAL OOTXRVMBHT OF POLAND TO THE INHABIT- 

AVT8 OF Lithuania, yolutnia, podolia, and Ukraine.* 

Brethren, and FeUow Citizem! 

The National Goveniinent of regenerated Poland, hs^py on 
being able at laat to address you in the name of the bond of broth- 
erhood and liberty, is anxious to lay before you the present state 
of our country, and to show you our wants, our dangers, and our 
hopes» 

The waU which 'Separated us is broken down — ^yoor wishes and 
ours realised. The Polish eagle ffies over our territory. United 
as we are, hand and heart, we will henceforth proceed in concert 
to accomplish the difficult, perilous, but just and sacred work — the 
restoration of ouivcountry. 

The Manifesto of the Diet, in explaining the cause of our rising, 
gave an account of our sentiments as ^ell as yours. Scarcely had 
we risen in arms, provided with but few means, and uncertain 
what course to pursue, before we showed to the world and to the 
£mperor Nicholas that the same spirit animated us, and that we 
were desirous to become, as we had formerly been, but one and 
the same nation. The Emperor Nicholas did not wish to conse- 
crate the tomb of his brother by a monument, which; during the 
life time of Alexander, would have sealed the glory of his reign. 

He did not yfiah to regard us as Poles, bowed down with inju- 
ries — as citizens of a free and independent country 3 — and would 
tpreat with us only as slaves who had rebelled against Russia. We ^ 
have arrested — we have driven back the threatening phalanxes of 
bis different corps. Of the forces of which our army was com- 
posed, some fought here against the main body of the enemy ; 
others penetrated into your provinces to call fbrth our brethren to 
range themselves under the national banner. You did not wait 
for this appeal. 

At the very commencement of the insurrection, many of your 
citizens explained their sentiments and their wishes in the Na- 
tional Assembly, and some loused regiments, dignified by the 
names of your provinces ; in fine, whole districts of Lithuania 
and Volhynia rose en mtu$e, 

* Not having 1 eopj of tbit Address in the original, we make use of a rather 
unaatiBfactory translatioB, which we find in the jonmals of the daj. 



418 APPENDIX. 

The partitioQ of Poland has been denominated a erime b^the 
nnanimoiu voice of Europe, and who at this day mil rewcke buA 
a decision? Who will venture to come forward as the rhn">p««« 
against it? Undoubtedly none I And we have the«weli-grDondpd 
hope that Europe will hasten to recognise our indepeodeoce, as 
soon as we have proved by our courage, obr perseverance, onr 
union, pur moderate and noUe conduct, that we desefve to be a 
free nation. This revolution is only a consequmioe of oar oppres- 
sion and our misfortunes. It was the wish of oar bearts, aal 
arises from the nature of onr history, which displays our decenni- 
nation from the very beginning, and proves that oor rising was sit 
of foreign prompting. It is not civil war — it is not tainted wkb 
the blood of our brethren— «we have not overturned social institB- 
tions in order to raise tip new ones at hazard ; — it is a war of inde- 
pendeoce, the most just of wars. This is the charact^ of onr rev- 
olution, which is at once mild, but firm — ^which with od« ann eoa- 
quers the enemy, and with the other raises and ennobles the needy 
peasant. 

We admire England and France — ^we wish to be, tte fibem, a 
civilized nation, but without ceasing to be PoIcb! Nations cannot 
and ought not to change the elements of their ezislenoe. £sdi 
has its cliinate, industry, religion, nuumers, character, educatioD, 
and history. From these dififorent elements spring ^ feeUags or 
passions which display themselves in revolutions, and the circiun- 
stances pro^^ to be adopted in their future conduct. 

Individuality strongly expressed, forms the power of a people. 
We have preserved ours in the midst of slavery. Love of ooon- 
^ try, prepared to make every sacrifice — courage — piety— noUe- 
mindedness, and gentleness, formed the charaeter of oar fore- 
fathers. These qualities also are ours. 

The patriots of Warsaw triumphed without chiefs and witboot 
law; yet with what crime can they be charged? An army of 
$0,000 men, and, in short, the whole kingdom, rose as If by en- 
chantment ; and how did they conduct themselves towards the 
Grand Duke Constantine ? That prince,^who for fifteen years had 
shown himself destitute of regard or pity for our feelings and liber- 
ties, was in our power ; but be knew the natisn, and, just to it for 
once only, he entrusted his person and his army to our honor I 
At the moment of alarm, we did not listen to the vpice of public 
vengeance, but respected the prince and his troops, without taking 
advantage of our superiority. Our battalions who had awaited 



I I 



APFEIIDIX. 419 

with a firm determinatioD all the forces of Rnsriay allowed to pass 
througb their ranks the fallen enemy, whose safe^ was guaran- 
tied by the national honor. 

'Fhe generosity of the nation has been proved ^by many bolated 
flictSy and Europe admires our moderation as much as our valor. 
Brethren, felk>w-citizens, equal admiration still awaits us. With- 
out delay, then, come forward with the whole of your force simul-. 
taneously, and act as one man in peace and in war ; it is the peo- 
ple who are the source of all povfer. To the people, then, direct 
your views and your affections. Children, worthy of your fathers, 
you Will act like them ; you will break the odious bonds, and yon 
w^ill cement a holy alliance by reciprocal benefits and by gratitude. 
In other countries it is by force and force alone, that the people 
recover their liberties — here those liberties are received as the gift 
of their brethren. A generous, just, and necessary deed will be- 
come the act only of your own choice, and yon will proclaim to 
the people their independence, and the return of the Polish eagles 
to their native soil. Our fields will lose nothing in cultivation and 
value when they are tilled by the industry of brave men. Tou 
will be ennobled in the eyes of civilized Europe^ and your country 
will gain millions of fellow-citizens, who, like our brave peasants, 
will fiy to the defence of their liberty, and drive back a power 
whose character is that only of slavery. Do not forget, brethren 
and fellow-citizens, that the Greek religion is professed by a great 
part of the people. Toleration is one of the qualities of civiliza- 
tion. The clergy, the churches, and religion, shall be placed 
under the protection of the government, and will lend you their 
assistance in carrying this measure of justice into effect. 

[The address goes on to enlarge upon the respect paid by PoUsh 
noblemen to religious rites and feelings, and calls on the people 
on this occasion to follow their example ; also to send deputies 
from the different provinces to the National Congress. It then 
goes on to describe the vast power of Russia, and the difficulties 
'to be encountered, much in the same manner as the proclamation 
of Skrzynecki, and concludes thus: — ] 

God hath already wrought prodigies for us. God, and not the 
Emperor of Russia, will be our judge ! He will decide. 

He will decide who hath committed perjury, who has been the 
victim of oppression, and who ought to obtain the victory. We 
have already fought with success, in the name of the God of our 
fathers ; and we will fight till at length we have accomplished the 



420 APPENDIX. 

ends of jusdee. All the nations of Europe, poosessed of the feel* 
ings of humanity, tremble for our fate, and exuH -with joy at oar 
successes. — They only wait your general rising to bafl yoa A 
members of the f^ee and independent nations of £urope. 

Brethren and fellow-citizens ! when we shall have fioished tins 
terrible and unequal contest, we will invite the Powers (^Europe 
to form themselyes into a tribunal of justice ; we will appear be- 
fore them covered with our blood, lay open the book of our an- 
nals, unrol the chart of Europe, and say — *< Behold our caose and 
yours! The injustice done to Poland is known to you: you be- 
hold her despair ; for her courage and generosi^ appears to her 
enemies!" 

Brethren ! let us hope in God. He will inspire the breast of 
our judges, who, obeying the dictates of eternal justice, will say— 
" Long llve'Poland ! free and independent!" 

Thc^resident of the I^ational Government, 

(Sign^) The Pkikck CzutTORissi. 

Warsaw, May 18, 1881, 



No. III. 

There is a rich consolation for the sufierings of a just cme, k 
the demonstrations of sjrmpathy which my countrymen have uni- 
formly met%ith on the part of the people among whom they hate 
been thrown in their exile. I cannot refuse myself the satisfaction 
of inserting here one among the many notices which have appear- 
ed in the journals of the day, exhibiting the warm interest with 
which they have been regarded by the people of FraBce. 

[From the N. Y. Coarier des Etats Unia, 7th April.] 

*' The Journal ofSaoine and Loire publishes full details of the 
arrival of the Poles at MaQon. The reception given to the third 
detachment, which has passed through that city, was even still 
more marked, affectionate, and touching than that of the prece- 
ding. All the inhabitants of the country quitted their labors, to 
go out to meet the exiles. The national guard and the troops of 
the line paid them the honors of the place. Salvoes of artillery 
announced their arrival and their departure. It was a triumphal 
march. The director of the packet boats gratuitously transported 
the Poles from Chalons to Lyons. At Magon, just as the packet 



APPENDIX. 421 

boat pushed off, a Polish captain threw his sword opon the baofc, 
exclaiming — ' Brave Magonnois, I give you the dearest possession 
Liiave in the world j preserve it as a token of our gratitude.' The 
swerd was carried in triumph to the Hotel de Ville, of Magon, 
where it was deposited, and a subscription was opened to make a 
preaeot to the brave stranger of a sword of honor. 

'^ The arrival of this column at Lyons was celebrated with great 
aolemnity. An idea of it may be formed from the recital which is 
given in the Preewrsettr de Lyon, 

*' * Since the triuntphal passage of the Veteran of Liberty, Lyons 
has seen nothing so magnificent as the great movement of which 
the arrival of the Poles was the signal. From eighty to a hundred 
thousand souls marched before the column, upon the road of Bresse, 
and from far beyond the faubourgs. Having reached the En- 
trance of the city, escorted by the elite of its inhabitants, the Poles 
found themselves in the midst of an immense crowd, wh<Mnade 
the air ring with their cries of enthusiasm and sympathy. From 
thence to the Place de Terreaux, the column experienced Atreme 
difficulty in advancing through the throngs of the delirious multi- 
tude. Words would fail to give the brilliant colors of this truly 
sublime picture. 

** ' Maledictions against the infamous policy of the Cabinets, 
mingled with the cries of ' Vive la Pologne!' The accents of gen- 
erous indignation were u^ted with those of a deep and heart-fblt 
pity for those remnants of an exiled people. **■ . 

" * A banquet was prepared at the Brotteanx. One of the com- 
mittee ascended a carriage to conduct thither that young heroine 
[the countess Plater, we presume,] who follows to a land of elile 
her noble companions in arms, as she had followed them upon the 
field of battle. The people had scarcely recognized her, when 
they precipitated themselves towards her, unharnessed the horses, 
and dragged the carriage in triumph to the place of the assemblage. 
** ' The banquet was attended by more than &ve hundred per- 
sons, and the committee had been forced to refuse a great number 
of subscribers, on account of the smallness of the accommodations. 
«<The first toast, given by the pre&ident, M. GaUbert, was, 
* To immortal Poland t' This toast, enlarged upon with an elo- 
quence full of warmth and pathos, excited an universal enthusiasm. 
The French embraced their noble guests, and it was a touching 
spectacle-vthis assembly, electrified by the most pure emotions of 
the soul, and in which tears flowed from every eye. 

53 



4133 APFS1IDIX« 

***tt ws mObtdng t»>ee tl» physiog n oiieB of the traipg Fthi 
dmriiif tliis soleiimi^. Many ^them anderstood tfae Fraoeb iu- 
gaage, and tears flowed dowa their cheeks al each of the 
which tbe oratera made to their abaeat country, their crashed 
latioo. The young heroiae seated by the ado ofjke 
and who excited a profound and general inteioac,' caaM havAy 
a uppr es a the sobs which oppressed her. 

" ( The most perfect order reigned through the whole feie. Ksf 
a gendarme was present, and no excess of the sligfacesft kind at- 
eurred. This countless multitade was cahn, notwithstandiBg tht 
▼iolence of its emotioDs. The pe<^ile proved how litde thdr ans- 
leff» aadefstand theou' ^ 



No. IV. 

The^oHowiDg extract from the London Conner of April M, 
1933, in reference to the recent Imperial Manifesto which coo- 
Yerts Poland into a province of Russta, may serve to confirm the 
remarks which we hare made in the text, on the system of decep* 
tion practised by the Emperor Nicholas towards the caKunets both 
of England and France, on the subject of Poland. 



" We perceire tiiat the Manifesto o( the Emperor of 
relative to^oland, which we gave on Saturday, has excited 
end indignation in France, as weU as in this country. Perksps, 
as the Poles are not of a character to be awed iato iiulaniB hin hf 
the power of their oppressors, whilst the slightest chance nf cmsa 
cipatiou is open to them^ it b better for the cause of huraau^ thsl 
they shoukl be tied hand and foot in the bonds of davary, thv 
that any opportimi^ should be afibided them of again satuatiBg 
the soil of Poland with the blood of its beat aad braved patrhMiL 
If life with disgrace be better than death without diahenor, tbe de- 
struction of tbe nationality of Poland may not he so greai «u ev3 
as the world at large imagine. If the utter impoMibill^ of sae- 
cessful revolt be clearly shown, the Poles may at length wear their 
ielteiB without resortmg to vain attempts to shake them ctf ; aad 
the monarch who has enslaved them, may gradually witness the 
extinction of mind, in proportion as he coerces and binds the body. 
But what a sad disgrace it is upon the goveniment and people of 
this country to have neglected, in proper aeasra, the meaaa of 



APPENDIX. 403 

securing to the brave and unfortunate people of Poland a natioi^ 
alit^ which would have given to them the form and substance of 
liberty, without involving the necessity of a rupture with the 
Power which has conquered them. Is it not true, that, at a time 
when the warm-hearted and generous portion of the people of this 
country were calling upon the Government to exercise the influ- . 
ence and power of the British Crown on behalf of the Poles, the 
reply was, ' We cannot go to war with the Emperor of Russia for , 
foreign interests — we cannot insist upon his evacuating Poland, ' 
and leaving the country in a state of complete independence ; but , 
we will use our good offices towf^rds obtaining favorable terms for . 
Che insurgents ; and we have already the satisfaction of knowing \ 
that the Emperor Nicholas has declared that the nationality of , 
Poland shall in no case be forfeited, and that in all other respects / 
the world shall be astonished at the extent of his generosity toV 
wards the vanquished.' 

" Is there a member of the Government, or any other person, 
who will tell us that such language as this was not made publicly 
and privately, in Parliament and out of Parliament, in the news- 
papers and out of the newspapers, and that the sole excuse for 
non-intervention was not the real or pretended belief that the na- 
tionality of Poland would be respected, and the conduct of the 
Emperor Nicholas be full of generosity and magnanimity? Gra- 
cions God! and are we come to such a pass that the sovereign of 
a semi-barbarous country can laugh at the honor and dignity of 
the British name ! Is all the respect that he can show to the good 
offices of the British Government, in behalf of a great-minded peo- 
ple, to be found in empty professions and unmeaning declarations ; 
and are we to put up tamely with one of the greatest insults that 
ever was inflicted upon the Government of the country ? Was it 
for this that we conciliated the Autocrat of the North on the Bel- 
gian question? And is all the return of our concessions a bold and 
naked defiance of our power, and a determination to convince the 
world that the days of British influence are passed forever? Per- 
haps we shall be told, even now, of the magnanimous intentions 
of the Emperor of Russia ; but the cheat is too stale. Every body 
knows not only that we have truckled to Russia in vain, but that 
to deception she has added insult, and that at this moment there is 
a Russian Ambassador in town, with instructions to cajole the 
Government on the Belgian question, and to withhold the ratifica- 
tion of the treaty until aAer the passing or rejecting of the Reform 



424 APPENDIX. 

Billy when tlM Emperor moj be enabled by a change alt goven' 
roent to dbpenee with it altogether. — Bvt we are dred oT the sab' 
ject ; the more we look at it, the more we feU dSsgraoedL We 
blame sot this or that mroBster ; fbr the intentions of the gorerD- 
ment towarda Poland, we firmly believe, were kind in the extreme ; 
but we blush for the country at large in having purchased tli» 
chance of peace at the sacrifice of honor.^ 



No. V. 

The following is the Imperial Manifesto referred to ki the pre* 
ceding article, as it appears in the Berlin State Gaxette^ Modcv cbt 
head of Warsaw, March ^th, 18SS. 

« Bjrthe grace of God, Nicholas I., Emperor of Russia, King 
of Poland, etc. When, by our Manifesto of Jan, «, last year, w» 
announced to our faithful subjects the march of our troops iiSto die 
kingdom of Poland, which was momentarily snatched from the 
lawful authority, we at the same time informed them of onr inten- 
tion to ^ the future fate of this country on a durable basis, sniied 
to its wants, and calculated to p'roitiote the welfare of oar whole 
empire. Now that an end has been put by force of arms \o the 
rebellion in Poland, and that the nation, led away by agitatore, has 
returned to its duty, and is restored to tranquillity, we deem it 
right to carry into execution our plan with regard to the introduc- 
tion of the new order of things, whereby the tranquiUity and union 
of the two nations, which Providence has entrusted to our care, 
may be forever guarded against new attempts. Poland, conquered 
in the year 1815 by the victorious arms of Russia, obtained l^ the 
magnanimity of our illustrious predecessor, the Emperor Alexan^ 
der, not only its national existence, but also special laws sanctioo- 
ed by a Constitutional Charter. These fkvors, however, would 
not satisfy the eternal enemies of order and lawful power. Obsti- 
nately persevering in their culpable projects, they ceased not one 
moment to dream of a separation between the two nations salject 
to our sceptre, and in their presumption they dared to abuse the 
favors of the restorer of their country, by employing for the de- 
struction of his noble work the very laws and liberties which his 
mighty arm had generously granted them. Bloodshed was the 
consequence of this crime. The tranquillity and happiness which 



APPENDIX. 426 

the kingdom of Poland had enjoyed to a degree till then unknown, 
vanished in the midst of civil war and a genial devastation. All 
these evils are now passed. The kingdom df Poland, again sub- 
ject to our sceptre, will regain tranquillity, and again flourish in 
the bosom of peace, restored to it under the auspices of a vigilant 
^oTernment. Hence we consider it one of our most sacred duties 
to -watch with paternal care over the welfare of our faithfbl sub- 
jects, and to use every means in our power to prevent the recur- 
rence of similar catastrophes, by taking from the ill-disposed the 
power of disturbing public tranquillity. As it is, moreover, our 
-wish to secure to the inhabitants of Poland the continuance of all 
the essential requisites for the happiness of individuals, and of the 
country in general, namely, security of persons and property, lib- 
erty of conscience, and all the laws and privileges of towns and 
communes, so that the kingdom of Poland, with a separate admin- 
istration adapted to its wants, may not cease to form an integral 
part of our empire, and that the inhabitants of this country may 
henceforward constitute a nation united with the Russians by sym- 
pathy and fraternal sentiments, we have, according to these prin- 
ciples, ordained and resolved this day, by a new organic statute, 
torjntroduce a new form and order in the administration of our 
kingdom of Poland. 

" St. Petersburgh, February 36, 1833. 

« NICHOUAS. 
*^ The Secretary of State, Count Stephek Orabowski.'' 

After this Manifesto, the organic statutes of Poland are given, 
the principal of which are as follows: 

*^ By the grace of Ood, we, Nicholas I., Emperor and Autocrat 
of all the Russias, King of Poland, &c. &c. 

*'In our constant solicitude for the happiness of the nations 
which Providence has confided to our government, we are occu^ 
pied in ftdng the basis for the fUture organization of the kingdom 
of Poland, having regard to the true interests and positions of the 
country, and to the local wanta and manners of the inhabitants. 

''OBKBRAL DISPOSITIONS. . 

" Art. 1. The kingdom of Poland is forever to be re-united to 
the Russian empire, and form an inseparable part of that empire. 
It shall have a particular administration conformably to its local 



426 APPENDIX. 

nteenitieg, «• well as a eivil and military code. The statntea ani 
the laws of cities and towns remain in full vigor. 

<' Alt. % The Crown of the kingdom of Poland is hereditary in 
onr person and in our heirs and sttccessors, agreeably to the esder 
of succession to the throne prescribed by all the Ruasias. 

" Art. 9. The Coronation of the Emperors of all the Eassias 
and Ktnfs of Poland shall be one and the same ceremonisl, which 
shall take place at Moscow, in the presence of a deputation from 
the kingdom of Poland, which shall assist at that st^enaiiiQr witk 
the deputies from the other parts of the empire. 

" Art. 4. In the possible event of a regency in Russia, the power 
of the regent or regentess of the empire will extend over the king- 
dom of PolancL 

" Art. 5. The freedom of worship is guarantied ; every one ii 
at liberty to exercise his religion openly, under the protection id 
Oovammant ; and the difierence of Christian faiths shall never 
pfove a pretext for the violation of the rights and privileges whkh 
are allowed to all the inhabitants. The Roipan Catholic religion, 
beklg that of the majority t)f our Polish subjects, shall be the ob- 
ject of especial protection of the Government. 

" Art. 6. The funds which the Roman Catholic clergy possess 
and those of the Greek church united, shall be considered as me 
common and inviolable property of the hierarchy ,pf eacb of those 
creeds. 

" Art. 7. The protection of the laws is assured to all the inhab- 
itants without distinction of rank or class. Each shall be empow- 
ered to assume dignities oir to exercise public functions, jji^^^ng 
to his personal merits or talents. 

^* Art. 8. Individual liberty is guarantied and protected by the 
existing laws. No one shall be deprived of his liberty, or called to 
justice, if he be not a transgressor of the law in all the forms pr9- 
aorihed. Evwy one detained shall be apprised of the motive of 
arrest. 

** Art. 9. Each person arrested must submit to a delayof three 
days to be heard and judged of, according to the forms of law, 
before competent tribunals: if he be found innocent, he vrill in- 
stantly obtain his liberty. He will be equally restored to liberty 
who shall fiH*nish a sufficient surety. 

" Art. 10. The form of judicial inquests directed against the su- 
perior funodaiiaries of the kingdom, and against persons accused 
•f high treason^ shall be determined by a particular law, the found- 



APPENDIX. 427 

fttion of which shall be accordant with the other law» of onr em- 
pire. 

** Art. 11. The right of property of individuala, and of corpora- 
tions, is declared sacred and inviolable, inasmuch as it will be con- 
formable to the existing laws. All the subjects of the kingdom of 
Poland are perfectly free to quit the country, and to carry away 
their goods, provided they conform to the regulations published to 
that effect. 

" Art. IS. The penalty of confiscation shall not be enforced but 
against state crimes of the first class, as may be hereafter deters 
mined by particular laws. 

" Art« 13. Publication of sentiments, by means of the press^ 
shall be subjected to restrictions which wiU protect religion, the 
inyiolability of superior authority, the interests of morals, and 
personal considerations. Particular regulations, to this effect, will 
be published according to the principles which serve as a basis to 
this object in the other parts of our empire. 

« Art. 14. The kingdom of Poland shall preportionaWy contri- 
bute to the general expenditure and to the wants of the empire. 
The proportion of taxes will be stated hereafter. 

" Art. 15. All contributions and all taxes which existed in No* 
rember, 1880, shall be levied after the manner formerly settled 
till the new fixing of taxes. 

"An. 16. The treasury of the kingdom of Poland, and all the 
other branches of the administration, shall be separated firom the 
administration of the other parts of the kingdom. 

" Art. 17. The public debt of Poland, acknowledged by us, shall 
be guarantied as formerly, by the government, and indenmified by 
the receipts of the kingdom. 

" Art. 18. The bank of the kingdom of Poland, and the laws 
respecting credit, shall continue under the protection of Gov- 
ernment 

" Art. 19. The mode of commercial transactions between the 
Russian empire and the kingdom of Poland shall be regulated ac- 
cording to the respective interests of the two countries. 

" Art. 20. Our army in the empire and in the kingdom shall 
compose one in common, without distinction of Russian or Polish 
troops. We shall reserve to ourselves a future decision of thie^ 
by an especial law, by what arrangement, and upon what basis^ 
the kingdom of Poland shall participate with our army. The 
number of troops which shall serve as a military defence of the 
kingdom will be also ultimately determined upon by a law. 



428 APPENDIX. 

'< Art. 21. Those of our sobjects of the empire of Rima, wha 
are establwhed in the kingdom of Poland^ who poooeas or skaR 
posaeas, real property in that country, shall enjoy all tbe li^ite 
of natives. It shall be the same with those of our sabjects of tbe 
kingdom of Poland, who shall establish themselves, and shai7 pos- 
sess property, in the other provinces of the empire. We reserve 
to ourselves to grant hereafter letters of naturalizatioo to other 
persons, as well to strangers as to Russians, who are not yet es- 
tablished there. Those of our subjects of the Ruasian empire 
who may reside for a certain time in Poland, and those of oar 
subjects of the kingdom of Poland who may sojourn in the other 
parts of the empire, are subject to the laws of the country whsre 
they reside. 

'< Art. 33. The superior administration of the kingdom of P6- 
land is confided to a council of administration, wJiich ahaD govsm 
the kingdom in our name, under the presidency of the governor of 
the kingdom. 

" Art. 38. The council of administration is composed of tbe 
governor of the kingdom, of superior directors, who superintend 
the commissions, and among whom are divided the interests of 
the administration, of comptroller, presiding over the supreme 
Chamber of Finance, and of other members, whom WO « viM t^ 
point by special orders." 



1 



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APR 2 1936 




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